Gwen, a 70-year-old St. Louis mother and grandmother, is a very active person who enjoys spending time in her garden and with her family. Every July 4th, Gwen takes her grandchildren to her vacation home on the river where they spend time tubing, their favorite outdoor hobby. Although Gwen could not imagine life without these rewarding pursuits, little did she know that a few years ago, her participation in these activities would be threatened by what seemed like a routine injury.
In late 2006, Gwen began experiencing pain in her right leg after walking around the mall for three hours. The discomfort quickly progressed into relentless agony that was centered in her ankle. Based on a referral from a family friend, Gwen visited Dr. Gary Schmidt of Olive Surgical Group who diagnosed her with ankle arthritis. In February 2007, Gwen started receiving cortisone shots and though they worked the first few times, by the end of that year she began wearing a brace to help manage the pain. In 2008, Gwen continued with the shots every three months and wore her brace on and off as necessary. However, in early 2009, Gwen started wearing her brace more frequently and by the fall was wearing it every day. She could no longer tend to her garden or walk for long periods of time; worst of all she had to stop tubing with her grandchildren in the summertime. At this point Gwen told her doctor that she needed to consider other options.
In late 2009, Gwen and Dr. Schmidt agreed that her best option was to undergo a total ankle replacement. He informed Gwen that she would be implanted with the INBONE® Total Ankle System from Wright Medical. Her doctor believed that undergoing ankle replacement would alleviate the pain that she had been accustomed to and that Gwen would benefit from an improved range of ankle motion.
On January 5, 2010, Gwen received her new ankle and spent only three nights in the hospital. After three days at home, she felt no pain. She progressed from a cast to a walking boot in just four weeks and, at eight weeks following her operation, was walking normally in her regular shoes. The timing was ideal – as Gwen was fully recovered by late February -- enabling her to prepare for the upcoming gardening season. She says, “This surgery has really given me my life back. Last summer, I returned to gardening and even went tubing with my grandchildren!”
Gwen 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.
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.