Dementia and Your Loved One

Recovering From Total Ankle Replacement Surgery

28 July 2015

Vickie Armstrong

Arthritis in your ankle joints can make it painful to walk. An orthopedic surgeon will be replacing your ankle with an artificial joint to give you back pain-free mobility. Here is what to expect while you recover from this common joint replacement procedure.

Damaged Bone is Replaced with Metal and Plastic

During the surgery, your doctor removes portions of the tibia, your lower leg bone, and the talus, the bone to which the tibia connects in your ankle. Arthritis has worn down the cartilage between these two bones, causing the pain and inflammation in your ankle. An artificial ankle joint made of metal and plastic components that fit together, are inserted into the tibia and talus. This gives your ankle a smooth surface on which to walk again.

The artificial joint is held in place in the bone with a special glue until the body can form its own attachments from the bone to the metal parts. Your recovery will progress slowly as the ligaments, tendons and muscles that hold your ankle heal fully.

Watching for Infection is the First Step

Once you get home from the hospital, you'll spend a few days resting while your body recovers from the surgery and anesthesia. This gives the tissues in your foot affected by the surgery a chance to heal. Your doctor will give you instructions on how to monitor your ankle for signs of infection. Some of the signs of infection include:

• redness and swelling over the surgical site
• pain when pressing on the incision
• drainage from the incision

If you should spot one or more of these signs, contact your doctor immediately so they can start you on antibiotics.

Passive Physical Therapy to Regain Mobility

After a few days of rest and healing, your doctor will prescribe physical therapy. The therapist will move your ankle through its natural range of motion to stretch the muscles. This gives you back the flexibility you need in your ankle to walk normally with your ankle in the proper alignment. The therapist will show you exercises that you can do at home to stretch those ankle muscles. You will also be able to slowly put weight on your ankles as you walk with crutches.

Active Physical Therapy to Regain Strength

After a few days of stretching your ankle muscles, the physical therapist will begin working with you to strengthen the muscles. This is important because the muscles, tendons and ligaments in your ankle hold the joint together and give you stability when you walk. You may also walk on a treadmill to practice bending your foot and ankle more while walking.

During this period of therapy, you need to set your pace with the physical therapist. Stay within your limits and don't push yourself beyond them or you risk injuring your ankle. At this point, damage to the tissues in your ankle could require another surgery to repair.

Slow and steady progress is important when recovering from ankle surgery. You'll be eager to get back on your feet and walk without pain. But don't let impatience derail your recovery.

For more information on joint replacement, contact a professional like Richmond Orthopedic Associate Inc.

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