What are the latest technologies in total ankle replacement?

The traditional treatment for ankle arthritis is an ankle arthrodesis that removes the damaged joint surface and fuses the ankle in one position. While this type of surgery reduces motion and affects how one walks, it is beneficial at reducing pain associated with severe, end-stage arthritis.  

There is an alternative to ankle arthrodesis for the treatment of ankle arthritis that has become popularized in the past 20-30 years: total ankle replacement. The first total ankle replacements were implanted in the 1970s. Since that time, there has been significant technological advancement leading to improvements in implant design and patient outcomes. There is no better time since their inception to consider a total ankle replacement. 

The majority of total ankle implants currently available on the market have a form of patient-specific instrumentation. This allows for a custom, personalized approach to total ankle replacement that results in shorter procedure times and a reduction in intraoperative x-rays.  

A strong believer in evidence-based medicine, Dr. Miner is not only up-to-date on the latest research involving total ankle replacements, she is on the forefront of conducting these groundbreaking studies herself to ensure the greatest possible outcomes for her patients.