Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints; when there’s an inflammation in the ankle joint (ankle arthritis) it can be caused a spectrum of conditions. The most frequent causes of this condition are autoimmune arthritis, trauma such as fractures or ankle sprains, deformities of the foot, and gout.
A patient with ankle arthritis will typically feel pain around the joint. The inflammation also causes swelling and the skin to become hot. This causes difficulty in moving the joint too much and prompts a checkup.
How is Ankle Arthritis Treated?
The treatment options depend on how advanced the arthritis is. When the inflammation is in its early stages, an arthroscopy can be planned.
Sometimes ankle arthritis is also associated with bony projections called spurs that need to be surgically resected.
When arthritis has advanced to intermediate stages, an osteotomy is the surgery of choice. This procedure corrects the underlying deformity and relieves the pain on the joint through resection of the cartilage.
If the ankle arthritis is well beyond the early stages and has become chronic, it’s pretty likely that a more complex surgical procedure such as arthrodesis or complete ankle joint replacement would be required.
The good news is that with the modern advancements in medicine, minimally invasive and comfortable options are now available. This facilitates rapid recovery, and the patient can return to their normal life quickly.
