New ankle prosthesis

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Ankle Replacements Take a Step Forward

Ankle Implant Decreases Joint Pain With 90% Satisfaction

By Kelli A.

WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

on Wednesday, July 28, 2004

July 28, 2004 -- Total hip and knee replacements have transformed

orthopaedic surgery. Yet repairing a bad ankle joint has long been a

daunting challenge. Now, researchers report a promising step forward in

the treatment of disabling ankle arthritis.

After decades of ankle implant failures, a unique prosthetic that offers

better mobility is helping total ankle replacement become an encouraging

choice for patients who have run out of options.

Total ankle replacement has been around since the 1970s, but the older

prosthetics often malfunctioned and had to be removed. So patients usually

faced a lifetime of disabling pain, often having to resort to ankle

fusion, which completely restricts movement of the joint.

The Agility Total Ankle Implant acts as a hinge, allowing more range of

movement.

For this study, University of Iowa orthopaedic surgeon Saltzman,

MD, examined 67 patients nine years after they received the Agility ankle

implant. He found that the FDA-approved implant worked well in the long

term. His study showed relatively low rates of arthritis in the area of

the implant and low rates of repeated surgeries due to implant failures or

surgery complications.

Overall, 90% of the patients reported decreased ankle pain and were

satisfied with the procedure. Ankle X-rays revealed that fewer than 20% of

patients had arthritis near the implant.

" The results of total ankle replacement are encouraging, " says Saltzman in

a news release. " The new failure rate is an 11% improvement from previous

reports. "

While the failure rate exceeds those of total hip and knee replacement

surgeries, Saltzman says ankle replacement using the Agility implant is a

much better option than fusion of the ankle bones.

The results of his study were presented at the American Orthopaedic Foot

and Ankle Society's annual summer meeting.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOURCES: The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society 20th Annual

Summer Meeting, Seattle, July 29-31, 2004. News release, American

Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.

[Guest guest]

Hi Carolyn,

Do you know anybody that had a Ankle replacement ?

Does it hurt a lot and do you have to be off your feet for awhile?

Susie

Ankle Replacements Take a Step ForwardAnkle Implant Decreases Joint Pain With 90% SatisfactionBy Kelli A. WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MDon Wednesday, July 28, 2004 July 28, 2004 -- Total hip and knee replacements have transformedorthopaedic surgery. Yet repairing a bad ankle joint has long been adaunting challenge. Now, researchers report a promising step forward inthe treatment of disabling ankle arthritis. After decades of ankle implant failures, a unique prosthetic that offersbetter mobility is helping total ankle replacement become an encouragingchoice for patients who have run out of options. Total ankle replacement has been around since the 1970s, but the olderprosthetics often malfunctioned and had to be removed. So patients usuallyfaced a

lifetime of disabling pain, often having to resort to anklefusion, which completely restricts movement of the joint. The Agility Total Ankle Implant acts as a hinge, allowing more range ofmovement. For this study, University of Iowa orthopaedic surgeon Saltzman,MD, examined 67 patients nine years after they received the Agility ankleimplant. He found that the FDA-approved implant worked well in the longterm. His study showed relatively low rates of arthritis in the area ofthe implant and low rates of repeated surgeries due to implant failures orsurgery complications. Overall, 90% of the patients reported decreased ankle pain and weresatisfied with the procedure. Ankle X-rays revealed that fewer than 20% ofpatients had arthritis near the implant. "The results of total ankle replacement are encouraging," says Saltzman ina news release. "The new failure rate is an 11% improvement from previousreports."

While the failure rate exceeds those of total hip and knee replacementsurgeries, Saltzman says ankle replacement using the Agility implant is amuch better option than fusion of the ankle bones. The results of his study were presented at the American Orthopaedic Footand Ankle Society's annual summer meeting. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------SOURCES: The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society 20th AnnualSummer Meeting, Seattle, July 29-31, 2004. News release, AmericanOrthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.

[Guest guest]

hi Suzanne

I am 7 months post-op from a total ankle. The recovery was challenging, because I was totally non -weight bearing for 3 months. The pain was so manageable, esp. compared to the pre-op pain I was in from my ankle injury.

I HIGHLY recommend the surgery. I am still facing some recovery challenges, but it was so much easier than I feared. And I am a single mom, with a 3 year old!

best

Maureen in chicago

Re: New ankle prosthesis

Hi Carolyn,

Do you know anybody that had a Ankle replacement ?

Does it hurt a lot and do you have to be off your feet for awhile?

Susie

Ankle Replacements Take a Step ForwardAnkle Implant Decreases Joint Pain With 90% SatisfactionBy Kelli A. WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MDon Wednesday, July 28, 2004 July 28, 2004 -- Total hip and knee replacements have transformedorthopaedic surgery. Yet repairing a bad ankle joint has long been adaunting challenge. Now, researchers report a promising step forward inthe treatment of disabling ankle arthritis. After decades of ankle implant failures, a unique prosthetic that offersbetter mobility is helping total ankle replacement become an encouragingchoice for patients who have run out of options. Total ankle replacement has been around since the 1970s, but the olderprosthetics often malfunctioned and had to be removed. So patients usuallyfaced a lifetime of disabling pain, often having to resort to anklefusion, which completely restricts movement of the joint. The Agility Total Ankle Implant acts as a hinge, allowing more range ofmovement. For this study, University of Iowa orthopaedic surgeon Saltzman,MD, examined 67 patients nine years after they received the Agility ankleimplant. He found that the FDA-approved implant worked well in the longterm. His study showed relatively low rates of arthritis in the area ofthe implant and low rates of repeated surgeries due to implant failures orsurgery complications. Overall, 90% of the patients reported decreased ankle pain and weresatisfied with the procedure. Ankle X-rays revealed that fewer than 20% ofpatients had arthritis near the implant. "The results of total ankle replacement are encouraging," says Saltzman ina news release. "The new failure rate is an 11% improvement from previousreports." While the failure rate exceeds those of total hip and knee replacementsurgeries, Saltzman says ankle replacement using the Agility implant is amuch better option than fusion of the ankle bones. The results of his study were presented at the American Orthopaedic Footand Ankle Society's annual summer meeting. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------SOURCES: The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society 20th AnnualSummer Meeting, Seattle, July 29-31, 2004. News release, AmericanOrthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.

[Guest guest]

Hi Maureen,

Thanks for letting me know about the ankle operation . Thats a long time for non-weight bearing three months did you have stay in a wheel chair all that time .That had to be hard with a three year old I hope you had a lot of help.

I had the Hip replacement and Knee replacement on my right side and they had where you couldn't put your full weight on your feet . I think the Hip replacement was harder then the Knee replacement. I grew up in Chicago IL. I live in Fox Lake IL.

Well you have a nice day.

SusieMaureen <vietmom@...> wrote:

hi Suzanne

I am 7 months post-op from a total ankle. The recovery was challenging, because I was totally non -weight bearing for 3 months. The pain was so manageable, esp. compared to the pre-op pain I was in from my ankle injury.

I HIGHLY recommend the surgery. I am still facing some recovery challenges, but it was so much easier than I feared. And I am a single mom, with a 3 year old!

best

Maureen in chicago

Re: New ankle prosthesis

Hi Carolyn,

Do you know anybody that had a Ankle replacement ?

Does it hurt a lot and do you have to be off your feet for awhile?

Susie

Ankle Replacements Take a Step ForwardAnkle Implant Decreases Joint Pain With 90% SatisfactionBy Kelli A. WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MDon Wednesday, July 28, 2004 July 28, 2004 -- Total hip and knee replacements have transformedorthopaedic surgery. Yet repairing a bad ankle joint has long been adaunting challenge. Now, researchers report a promising step forward inthe treatment of disabling ankle arthritis. After decades of ankle implant failures, a unique prosthetic that offersbetter mobility is helping total ankle replacement become an encouragingchoice for patients who have run out of options. Total ankle replacement has been around since the 1970s, but the olderprosthetics often malfunctioned and had to be removed. So patients usuallyfaced a

lifetime of disabling pain, often having to resort to anklefusion, which completely restricts movement of the joint. The Agility Total Ankle Implant acts as a hinge, allowing more range ofmovement. For this study, University of Iowa orthopaedic surgeon Saltzman,MD, examined 67 patients nine years after they received the Agility ankleimplant. He found that the FDA-approved implant worked well in the longterm. His study showed relatively low rates of arthritis in the area ofthe implant and low rates of repeated surgeries due to implant failures orsurgery complications. Overall, 90% of the patients reported decreased ankle pain and weresatisfied with the procedure. Ankle X-rays revealed that fewer than 20% ofpatients had arthritis near the implant. "The results of total ankle replacement are encouraging," says Saltzman ina news release. "The new failure rate is an 11% improvement from previousreports."

While the failure rate exceeds those of total hip and knee replacementsurgeries, Saltzman says ankle replacement using the Agility implant is amuch better option than fusion of the ankle bones. The results of his study were presented at the American Orthopaedic Footand Ankle Society's annual summer meeting. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------SOURCES: The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society 20th AnnualSummer Meeting, Seattle, July 29-31, 2004. News release, AmericanOrthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.