Duane, a 78-year-old Utah resident, is no stranger to pain. He grew up in the back country of Wyoming where he had a part time job breaking horses.
It was tough work requiring a tough attitude, as it wasn't unusual for a horse to rear up in resistance, often flipping over and landing on its rider.
Although this job probably caused more than one injury for Duane, at the time, it was unlikely that you'd hear him mention it or seek the attention of a doctor.
That was the way he was raised.
Duane carried this mentality through his life so it was no surprise that when he started developing pain in his right ankle, he chose to carry on without a word.
As time went on, the discomfort continued to grow, making everyday tasks such as walking up and down stairs and running errands more difficult.
However, it was during a trip to Turkey with his wife that Duane reached his threshold. The couple did a lot of walking during the trip and Duane found himself
struggling to keep up. During one long walking tour, the pain in his ankle became so severe that Duane had to be brought back to the bus by four-wheeler.
He decided that something needed to be done.
Once back in Ogden, Duane scheduled an appointment with Dr. Jeffrey Rocco at Utah Orthopaedics, who previously treated injuries he sustained many years
ago in an oil field accident. Duane was interested to learn about treatment options to address his balky ankle, which was likely caused by osteoarthritis.
At first, Duane thought that his only option would be ankle fusion -which would relieve his pain but significantly restrict his mobility-so he was intrigued
when his doctor proposed another option: the INBONE® Total Ankle Replacement from Wright Medical.
After talking through the procedure with Dr. Rocco, Duane and his wife felt that it was the best way for him to regain his mobility and the freedom to travel,
which the couple liked to do frequently. In September 2009, Duane received his new ankle and after just two days in the hospital, was able to go home and begin rehabilitation.
Within three weeks, Duane's cast was removed and he was able to walk with the support of crutches. He diligently did stretching exercises as his strength continued
to increase and was walking unassisted a month after surgery.
Today, Duane's ankle is pain-free and he's able to do the day-to-day things that at one point were such a struggle. Additionally, Duane and his wife were
recently able to travel to Africa, something that would have been impossible prior to the total ankle replacement.
Duane was treated with an INBONE® Total Ankle Replacement. Total ankle replacements are a viable alternative to ankle fusion,
which is a surgical procedure whereby the three bones that make up the ankle joint are literally fused together. While ankle fusions often reduce or eliminate the pain,
they do not restore the ankle's range-of-motion.
The INBONE® Total Ankle began as a leading foot and ankle surgeon's quest to provide a 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 unlike any existing options available.
The prosthesis consists of two main pieces: a tibial (shin bone) component and a talar (ankle bone) component. The tibial component features a polyethylene
(plastic) piece secured within a titanium (metal) 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 metal 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 on the highly polished metal surface of the talar component,
allowing for smooth, fluid movement.
For more information on the INBONE® Total Ankle replacement, visit www.inbone.com.
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.