Surgery can be daunting and brings with it a cascade of fear. It is often the last resort for any medical condition when conventional or Non-surgical methods fail to provide relief or treat it. Ankle surgery is often advised by the foot and ankle specialist in Maryville, IL, when your ankle bones are unstable and need more time to heal.
This informative blog explores ankle surgery, the reasons why it is done, and the types of surgeries.
What is ankle surgery?
Ankle surgery is a procedure that helps manage fractures, arthritis (inflammation of the joint), and tendonitis (tendon inflammation) that cannot be managed with conservative therapy and medications.
The surgery involves roughening the ends of the damaged bone, and then fastening them together with metal plates and screws. The damaged bones fuse into one combined bone while it heals.
Why is ankle surgery done?
Ankle surgery may be recommended for the following ankle problems:
- Fractured ankle
- Arthritis causes pain and immobility
- Chronic ankle instability as seen during multiple sprains
- Ankle deformity
- Chronic tendonitis of the ankle
What are the types of ankle surgery?
Several types of ankle surgeries can range from being invasive to minimally invasive. These include:
- Ankle arthroscopy
- This is a minimally invasive procedure involving multiple small keyhole incisions (cuts) in your ankle.
- A special telescope-like device is inserted to guide the surgery using a camera that captures images and projects them on a large computer screen.
- Ankle fracture surgery
- This surgery helps stabilize broken bones of the ankle by holding them in place using screws, plates, and metal wires.
- Ankle fusion
- Here, your surgeon will remove the damaged tissue from the ankle joint affected by arthritis.
- The bones are permanently fused using plates, wires, or screws.
- Ankle replacement
- Here surgeons will remove the damaged part of the ankle and replace it with an artificial joint made up of metal or plastic.
- The replacement joint is attached to the existing bone using a special surgical glue.
- Brostrom procedure
- This is a lateral ankle ligament reconstruction.
- A small cut will be made on the exterior of your ankle, then tighten loose and weak ligaments that cause ankle instability.
Takeaway
Contact your foot and ankle specialist for further evaluation if you have ongoing chronic ankle pain. Your doctor can assess your ankle to know the cause of the pain and recommend treatment options that best suit you. If conservative therapy and medications fail to provide relief, you may be recommended for ankle surgery.
