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Ankle Replacement Surgery

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Ultraboxer
Ultraboxer

I would like to estabish contact with anyone who has undergone ankle replacement surgery and reflect a ittle on the aftereffects and the longer term prognoses for recovery and mobility.

Having undergone such an operation about 9 months ago I am currently coming to terms with a less than welcome (and certainly unexpected) imapct upon my life and mobility.

Issues such as lack of mobility, excessive swelling and cronic pain from the ankle itself but also from the toes and lack of sensation and feeling in parts of the foot are those I am facing and would like to know how other poeple have fared, both in the short and longer term.

16 likes, 848 replies

848 Replies

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  • miluska
    miluska Ultraboxer

    Posted

    My husband had a STAR (Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement) November 9.  This was done by a Dr. Yu who studied underDr. Sheskier at NYU Langone.  He had a soft cast two weeks, was non weight bearing (and he could not use crutches) for five weeks.   He now uses a cane and is in physical therapy.  The doctor is pleased  with his progress.  Tom had end stage bone on bone arthritis in his ankle, which he damaged three times in his 69 years, and the doctor saw that his tendon also needed repair, so while he was in there, he did it.  Tom is supposed to wear a protective boot on his left leg, and usually, he does.  The pain Tom hasnow mostly comes from where the tendon was repaired but it should get better with use. It has been a tough eight weeks but now we dare to be hopeful.   We are going to physical therapy 3x a week and will go to Aruba for three weeks February 10-Mar 3.  Doctor says he should do all right... the pain he has now is NOT the arthritic pain he had pre-surgery.    He was, by most standards, no longer mobile and spent most of his time in a green recliner with his swollen ankle( after two hours' use)...we have been worried about the newness of ankle replacement but feel we had no choice...and last night, he hobbled around the kitchen eating cereal without his cane and I thought, my gosh....maybe this will really work!   So keep heart, everyone!  

  • biancamosca
    biancamosca Ultraboxer

    Posted

    I just had a Wright infinity ankle replacement done at the RNOH 11 days ago.  I stayed in hospital 2 nights,  3 days after being home I finished the slow release morphine pills I was on and I have had no pain (some occasional pin prick feelings) and just take 2 paracetamol 3 times a day.  I did a lot of research on my surgeon, I checked on the national joint registry which is available for anyone to look at in the uk and checked every surgeon in the uk who has experience of TAR and then looked for the most experienced surgeons who only do ankles not other joints. Luckily I found one of the best surgeons in the country at the RNOH.  I had read not to let anyone touch your ankle if they have performed less than 5 of these surgeries and preferably they should have experience of at least 1 per month.  I am NWB for just over 2 weeks and have to keep it above my hip for pretty much 23 hours a day which has been the hardest thing.  A week today I will have my stitches out, fibreglass lightweight cast put on and can start weight bearing apparently.  I am hoping things will just keep improving from here but will keep you updated.  
    • RichardKen
      RichardKen biancamosca

      Posted

      Hello

      Your post is of great interest to me as I had a consultation at the RNOH in Stanmore with A.G. and wondered if by any chance he is your surgeon.   I rather understood that his preference is for the BOX prosthetis so it is interesting that you had the Wright Infinity TAR installed.

      I had a Zenith TAR in 2012 which seemed to be doing well until at my last checkup a few months ago showed that I now have a cyst problem.    This will at the very least require that some skilled revision work is carried out to avoid the TAR collapsing and I realised right away that I needed a surgeon who has really good experience and a high degree of skill.

      It is very clear to me that most surgeons in th3e UK who are prepared to carry out a total ankle replacement have not done enough of these procedures to get good at it and certainly are not up to it when it is a revision that is required!

      Cheers

      Richard

    • biancamosca
      biancamosca RichardKen

      Posted

      Hi Richard,

      yes it is A.G.  I know he introduced the Wright Prophesy system of preparing for the surgery using the custom made Prophesy guides at the RNOH so it seems a natural choice for me to have had the Wright Infinity TAR.   I can only speculate that he might recommend different TAR's depending on each case and need.  I am sorry to hear in your case you have developed cysts?  Do you know why that happened, was it to do with the replacement or something to do with the original injury?

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen biancamosca

      Posted

      That is great news. The cyst issue is caused by microscopic wear debris from the TAR prosthesis and is called Osteolysis. There is the potential for this to cause the failure of all artificial joints.

      Many ankle surgeons are well aware of this but although they mention the danger of blood clots and infection on their web sites they choose not to be up front about Osteolysis.

      I'm very new to this forum so do not know how to pass on my phone number off list, but would welcome an opportunity to talk before my revision surgery.

      Cheers Richard

    • biancamosca
      biancamosca RichardKen

      Posted

      Hi Richard, I had my stitches out yesterday and the cast was changed to a coloured lightweight one.  The wound looked really good, just a bit swollen.  I was told to start weight bearing 25% and then within 4 days get up to full weight bearing for say 30 mins and then rest and elevate for a couple of hours.  This seems very quick, within 3 weeks of op and seems to be at odds with what other people have said on this site.  Is there anybody else on here that was told to do so much do soon?  Have u decided to go ahead with RNOH for cyst repairs Richard?
    • RichardKen
      RichardKen biancamosca

      Posted

      Dear Bianca

      That's really excellent news. Wonderful! I cannot really remember how long I had to wait before I was allowed to be partial weight bearing but would guess as t about three to four weeks

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen

      Posted

      Golly I did not mean to hit the upload button then as I had more to add! Doing this on my phone!I've just looked at my hospital notes and see that I was partial weight bearing at two weeks.

      I had an invitation from the consultant I saw six weeks ago to attend his NHS clinic and felt that I should go even though I wanted AG to do any revision work to my TAR. He had new X-rays done and said that the upper half of my prosthesis looked to be loose and that I needed a new prosthesis installed.

      I have just today received Mr GBs report for my GP but it was written before he saw the information I sent his secretary so hopefully early next week he will update the report and I should have something more positive to discuss with my GP

      All the best. Richard

    • biancamosca
      biancamosca RichardKen

      Posted

      Hi Richard,  I have gone for small walks the last two day, about 25/50% weightbearing for 7 mins yesterday and 20 mins today,  I felt it swell a little in the cast and hurt a little bit at the front but that was alleviated with paracetemol.  I have attached some pictures below of my replacement and my wound.  I was quite pleased it is not very long and quite neat.

      I think my wound is much neater and cleaner and am very pleased about that.

      I wish you luck with you discussion with your GP, keep me informed.  

      Best wishes

      Elizabeth

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen biancamosca

      Posted

      Dear Elizabeth

      Such good news from you. The pictures look good. I found that elevating my leg whilst in the cast greatly reduced swelling. When out of the cast using crepe bandages - ace bandages in the US I think - that had been soaked in water and well wrung out and left in the freezer were a great help when wound around my ankle.

      I've just received the report from your surgeon but unfortunately he wrote it before reading my email to him to make him aware of last weeks X-rays that suggested that the top part of the prosthesis was loose and that a revision prosthesis was necessary. I had been called back by a surgeon I had seen earlier who had new X-rays made.

      This all seems to take such a long time and I'm concerned that the longer the delay the less chance there is of the best outcome. In the meantime I continue to make good progress with the iwalk hands free crutch!

      Best wishes Richard

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen

      Posted

      Oops looks as if I’m partially repeating what I posted a couple of days ago...apologies! Richard
    • biancamosca
      biancamosca RichardKen

      Posted

      Hi Richard,

      how are you?  How did the clinic go with the consultant you saw 8 weeks ago go?  Hope there is some positive news for you!   I am mostly walking about the house comfortably without crutches or knee walker now.  I make trips to the supermarket to do shopping and can walk about for about 30-40 minutes using the shopping trolley as a support.  I can feel my ankle swells up after 30-40 mins but when I elevate it it goes down within 20-30 mins.  The last three weeks in my fibreglass cast have gone very quickly as I am more mobile and I now only have a week till this cast comes off and I go into a boot.  I can't wait to wash my leg/foot properly and see how it is dealing with the weight bearing visually.

      best wishes

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen biancamosca

      Posted

      Good to hear from you...do feel free to ring me for a proper chat. Such good news fro you and I'm sure you will go from strength to strength!

      My visit to London went well and I got on well with AG and my GP is requesting that he does my revision. I had new X-rays as the result of being called back on the NHS by a surgeon I had seen privately in December and he thought that the cysts had now resulted in the top element of the prosthesis becoming loose. This of course knocks out the option of filing the cysts and hoping that will solve the problem, so it will have to be a replacement prosthesis or if the bone does not allow this then it will be a fusion.

      To add to my woes this last Saturday the twenty year old hip replacement on the other side failed! I'm now on crutches and finding life very frustrating whilst the local hospital finds out what prostethis was used and how to sort things out.

      I look forward to talking on the phone some time soon

      Best wishes

      Richard

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen StuartSt

      Posted

      Dear Stuart

      Rather than writing the name of the particular consultant I've chosen to identify him in this way as anyone who knows him will be able to make the connection.

      Hope that helps.

      Cheers

      Richard

    • StuartSt
      StuartSt RichardKen

      Posted

      Hi Richard

      No problem at all, think I can join the dots, just wasn't sure.

      I'm looking for a consultant in who is pro TAR, would you recommend him?

      Thanks.

    • biancamosca
      biancamosca RichardKen

      Posted

      Hi Richard just wanted to let you know I had my 3 month follow up last week, all good.  Did have some pain issues in foot when moving into shoes and tendons started moving again above toes but that is resolved now.  Physio yesterday said I had met all targets and had good gait, heel/toe roll and push off.  Walking in house in shoes without aid, walking for an hour in boot outside with dogs on uneven ground with no pain issues.  I take some painkillers first thing in morning if I think I'm going to have a big day (i.e. Physio, a lot of walking) otherwise I am pretty pain/ache free.  Going to go for a swim today to try and build up calf/thigh muscles.  How are you doing?  When is your hip operation?  Have you followed up with a surgeon with regards to getting cysts filled?  Best wishes

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen biancamosca

      Posted

      So good to get your three month update. I'm so glad that all is going well and that you sound so positive.

      It's wonderful to hear what you are doing and it will continue I'm sure. Swimming is really excellent exercise. Before my hip failed nearly two months ago I was doing a bit over half a mile every other day and feeling the benefit. Cannot think how to get decent exercise now without doing damage to my left hip or my right ankle!

      I had the pre op for my hip revision yesterday and have been given May 18th for the surgery.

      As soon as I've recovered I can move onto cyst filling to my ankle on the other side. It is all taking a worrying amount of tie with danger of poisoning from metal particles from the damaged hip joint and increasing degradation due to cysts in the ankle. Still I'm confident that the two surgeons I have lined up are the best for the job.

      All the very best to you.

      Richard

    • molly34687
      molly34687 biancamosca

      Posted

      hi,

      So glad to hear everything is going well with your TAR. I'd be curious to know which surgeon used,

      thank you so much

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