Charlene and her husband were enjoying retirement. They traveled, had their family over for Sunday dinners and socialized regularly with
friends. All of that changed on December 3, 1999 when Charlene fell down the stairs and broke her ankle in three places. Even after surgery
and several months of physical therapy Charlene was still in pain. She believed her ankle wasn’t healing properly and made a follow-up
appointment with her orthopedist. X-rays revealed she had ankle osteoarthritis. Her doctor suggested an ankle fusion to alleviate her pain but
couldn’t guarantee her quality of life would improve. Charlene decided against undergoing a procedure that would limit her ankle’s range of
motion without significant improvements to her quality of life. Despite medications, orthopedic casts and multiple consultations with surgeons,
Charlene didn’t experience a single pain-free day for nine years.
Each morning when she put her foot on the floor to get out of bed Charlene experienced mind numbing pain. To walk from her bedroom to her
kitchen, or from the car to a restaurant, she relied on crutches and a heavy, cumbersome boot. For longer trips to the mall or to the grocery
store she needed a wheelchair. At church she was forced to sit in the back pews because she couldn’t endure the pain that walking to the front
caused her. In addition to her limited mobility, Charlene gained twenty pounds.
Frustrated by her inability to live her life and the years of chronic, debilitating pain, Charlene was nearly ready to undergo an ankle fusion.
However, because two years passed since her last consultation, she decided to schedule an appointment with Dr. Drew Murphy, hoping there was an
alternative to ankle fusion.
After examining her ankle, reviewing her case history and viewing her x-rays, Dr. Murphy suggested Charlene consider the INBONE® Total
Ankle Replacement. Excited about an option other than an ankle fusion, Charlene brought home the literature to review with her husband. They were
both impressed by the INBONE® technology and the success of other INBONE™ ankle patients. After an in-depth discussion, they decided the
only thing Charlene had to lose was the pain in her ankle. The next day she scheduled her surgery. Charlene received her INBONE® Total
Ankle Replacement on February 19, 2008. The results have been outstanding.
The night of Charlene’s surgery she awoke for the first time in nine years without throbbing pain. Eight weeks post surgery she took her first steps
with the assistance of a walking boot. She could hardly believe that she didn’t have any pain. In fact, she had forgotten what it was like to walk from
room to room in comfort. Fourteen weeks post surgery she was walking using a small brace, and within five months she was walking without braces, walking
casts and most importantly, without pain. Charlene can hardly believe how far she has come in just over six months.
Today Charlene walks four to five mornings a week on her treadmill and has lost ten pounds. She and her husband enjoy hosting their children, grandchildren
and great-grandchildren for Sunday dinners. During a recent trip to a family pizzeria she kept up with her great-grandchildren. Once again, Charlene and her
husband are planning trips and socializing with friends. This is the retirement life that they envisioned, and now she is healthy enough to enjoy it.
Charlene 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® 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, 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 rotates effortlessly on the highly polished metal surface of the talar component, resulting
in 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.