SAN ANTONIO --You hear a lot about knee and hip replacements, but orthopedic surgeons can also replace ankles. A new artificial joint is helping patients lead a more normal life without pain.
For 63-year-old Ron Siliven of Spring Branch, every step was a pain. Arthritis and overuse had worn out this crucial joint.
“As time went on, it got to where I couldn’t walk anymore,” Siliven remembered. “I basically was in a wheelchair or a walker. It was very frustrating.”
Siliven opted for the newest generation of ankle replacement, a prosthesis called INBONE by Wright Medical. The bone of the tibia actually grows into the implanted stem, creating alignment and stability while allowing flexibility.
“What I like about doing this surgery is that it preserves the ankle joint,” said orthopedic surgeon Dr. Marvin Brown of the San Antonio Orthopaedic Group. “Patients have good pain relief with this and they still have some motion.”
The operation itself takes about two hours. The surgeon works through a five-inch incision in front of the leg. The surgeon selects the metal and plastic replacement parts based on the patient’s anatomy.
Brown has performed about 14 of these INBONE ankle replacement surgeries over the past year. He says the outcomes have been very good.
“They have mobility usually that is slightly more than whatever they had before the surgery,” Brown said.
Siliven is happy to be back on his feet. “Now I can at least go out and enjoy a walk with my wife and my grandson,” he stated. “And I finally get to dance with my wife after three years.”
Patients with pain from arthritis due to disease or injury may be candidates for this surgery. It’s an alternative to ankle fusion that can help some people preserve their natural function.
