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Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that can occur in any part of the body. Arthritis typically causes pain, tenderness, swelling and loss of mobility. In foot and ankle arthritis, tthe joints most commonly affected are:
- The ankle, where the shinbone rests on the uppermost bone of the foot
- The three joints of the hindfoot
- The midfoot, where one of the forefoot bones connects to the smaller midfoot bones
- The great toe
Causes
- Osteoarthritis: This is "wear and tear" damage to joint cartilage (the soft tissue between joint bones) that comes with age. As the cartilage deteriorates and gets thinner, the bones lose their protective covering and may rub together, causing pain, redness, swelling and inflammation of the joint.
- Injury: An injury may lead to osteoarthritis, although it may take months or years after the injury for the condition to develop. In the ankle, osteoarthritis is usually caused by a fracture and occasionally by a severe sprain.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: This autoimmune disease causes inflammation of the joint tissue, causing joints to become swollen, stiff and painful. Over time, this inflammation can destroy the joint tissue.
Treatment options
At UCSD, our orthopedic surgeons offer a range of treatments for foot and ankle arthritis, depending on the extent and severity of your symptoms. Although there is no cure for either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, our team is at the forefront of leading edge treatment technologies.
These include a variety of surgical procedures that can improve mobility and relieve symptoms. Depending on your age, physical condition, the severity of your arthritis and your activity level, the following procedures may be considered:
Arthroscopic Debridement
Osteoarthritis can cause loose pieces of cartilage and bone to float around inside the joints of the foot and ankle, causing irritation and inflammation. This can lead to bone spurs and roughening of the cartilage, both of which cause pain. During arthroscopic debridement, the surgeon uses a special TV camera and surgical tools inserted through small incisions to remove any loose pieces or bone spurs and smooth the cartilage surfaces.
Ankle Fusion (Arthrodesis)
Severe arthritis of the ankle joint can make walking difficult or impossible. In this case, ankle fusion (arthrodesis) may be performed. In this operation, the three bones that make up the ankle joint (the talus, the tibia, and the fibula) are fused together with metal implants, allowing them to heal and fuse into one bone. Pain is usually completely relieved by this procedure.
Artificial Ankle Replacement (Arthroplasty)
Depending on your individual situation, an ankle replacement may be preferable to an ankle fusion. During ankle replacement, the joint surfaces of the end of the shin bone (tibia) and top of the ankle bone (talus) are removed. Next, the surgeon places a metal and plastic implant into the bone ends to create a new ankle joint.
Schedule an appointment
For more information or a consultation, please contact us:
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