Carolyn, a 49 year-old proud grandmother, dedicates her week to coaching her ten-year-old grandson, who was
diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome six years ago. Carolyn home schools her grandson and leads him through
occupational therapy exercises to develop his motor skills. It has become Carolyn’s mission to equip her
grandson with the skills necessary to live a normal life, such as how to catch a ball and draw simple shapes,
skills that do not come easily to him because of his disability. However, her ability to play an active role
in her grandson’s life was jeopardized five years ago when a lawn mowing accident resulted in a near amputation;
leaving her on the brink of immobility.
It was mid-May 2005 and Carolyn was mowing her front lawn, which has a sizable hill. Starting up the hill,
Carolyn lost her footing and fell, landing hard on her left ankle. In a state of shock, Carolyn felt no pain,
but a neighbor heard her cry for help and called the ambulance. Once at the hospital it was discovered that
the ligaments and tendons in Carolyn’s left ankle were torn. A surgeon placed numerous screws and pins in her
ankle to keep it intact and she was told that only one tendon was holding her ankle together, thus preventing
an amputation.
For the next year, Carolyn lived in a constant state of excruciating pain. Frequently taking pain relievers
and muscle relaxers, she could no longer be physically active with her grandson. In order to help him learn to
catch, she had to sit in a chair and throw the ball to him, relying on her dog to retrieve the ball when he
missed. Carolyn frequently called on her 71-year old mother to cook and clean her house because she could not
stand long enough to complete these tasks. Seeking relief, a year later, Carolyn returned to her surgeon who
inserted additional pins into her ankle to try and stabilize it. Although she experienced some relief, for
another three years Carolyn was unable to walk up and down stairs or more than fifty feet at a time without
having to sit down.
In January 2009, Carolyn decided to take action as she feared that time was running out to be engaged with
her grandson. Carolyn’s surgeon proposed an ankle fusion, but after learning that it would severely restrict
her mobility, she went about seeking an alternative. Her primary care physician recommended Dr. Gary Schmidt,
a foot and ankle specialist at Barnes West County Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
Dr. Schmidt recently began performing total ankle replacement surgery, a procedure that has enabled many
patients to regain an active lifestyle. After a 30-minute consultation with Dr. Schmidt, Carolyn believed
that an artificial ankle was the best course of treatment for her.
On September 8, 2009, Carolyn received a INBONE® total ankle replacement manufactured by
Wright. The INBONE® ankle offers a unique fit that allowed Carolyn to experience a smooth and
fluid movement of the ankle upon recovery. Carolyn was in the hospital for only one day; two weeks later she
was out of her cast; and ten weeks after that, was walking with ease.
She recovered just in time for Christmas. To celebrate being able to decorate for the first time since her
accident; she hung up more Christmas lights than ever before. Since her surgery, Carolyn has painted the room
she and her grandson use for school and is able to play catch several times per week.
Today, Carolyn embraces the simple things that most of us take for granted: cooking, cleaning and walking
up and down her stairs. Carolyn says, “I would recommend this surgery to anyone. Today I have my life back. I
can do anything and I have Dr. Schmidt and [Wright’s] INBONE® implant to thank!”
Carolyn was treated with an INBONE® Total Ankle Replacement. Until recently,
there were limited options for ankle replacement in the U.S. The INBONE® Total Ankle began as a
leading foot and ankle surgeon’s quest to provide a viable surgical solution to ankle arthritis patients for
pain reduction and restored mobility. The INBONE® ankle team carefully studied previous ankle
designs to determine the causes of implant failure. With that knowledge in hand, and using design elements
already proven successful in hip and knee implants, INBONE® ankle engineers designed a total
ankle replacement intended to stand the test of time.
The prosthesis consists of two main pieces: a tibial component and a talar component. The
tibial component features a high strength polyethylene piece secured within a titanium holder. A long titanium
stem securely anchors this half of the implant within the tibia. The talar component is an anatomically shaped,
highly polished cobalt chrome piece which also features a stem. The talar stem is inserted into the talus
(ankle bone) to securely anchor this half of the implant. Once installed, the smooth plastic surface of the
tibial component is designed to rotate effortlessly on the highly polished metal surface of the talar
component, allowing for smooth, fluid movement.
These results are specific to this individual only. Individual results and activity
levels after surgery vary and depend on many factors including age, weight and prior activity level. There
are risks and recovery times associated with surgery and there are certain individuals who should not
undergo surgery.
Only a physician can tell you if this product and associated procedure are right for
you and your unique circumstances. Please consult with a physician for complete information regarding
benefits, risks and possible outcomes.