Sixty-six year old Michael rarely leaves his feet. As a career soldier, he spent thirty years in the United States Army before retiring in 1994 at the rank of Sergeant Major. Michael is not the type to pull up a chair and watch TV all day, so when he hung up his uniform for good, he began taking frequent 2-3 mile walks with his dog throughout the neighborhoods of Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, Fla.
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In 2009, the pace of Michael’s walks began to slow due to a growing discomfort in his left ankle. Ever the soldier, Michael brushed aside the pain and continued his daily marches around the base. It wasn’t until he was confronted by friends and neighbors, who were alarmed that he was virtually hobbling, that Michael met with a doctor. By this time, he was using a cane to help take the pressure off his ankle and maintain his balance.
Michael’s primary care physician referred him to Dr. Shayne Jensen of Gulf Coast Podiatry Foot & Ankle Surgery Center. After examining his ankle, Dr. Jensen explained to Michael that the pain was due to a lack of cartilage in his ankle joint, possibly caused by osteoarthritis. Michael was eager to get walking again and the two immediately started to discuss options for treatment.
Dr. Jensen believed that Michael was an ideal patient for a total ankle replacement. Although he was aware of artificial hips and knees, Michael was not familiar with artificial ankles. But after discussing the procedure with Dr. Jensen, he was convinced that it was the best option to regain his mobility and the daily walks that he enjoyed so much.
In July 2010, Michael received the INBONE® Total Ankle Replacement from Wright Medical. Shortly after receiving his new ankle, the sharp pain that had constantly accompanied Michael was reduced to a mild discomfort. After just three months of physical therapy, Michael rebuilt the strength of his ankle and is back to walking about a mile per day, a distance that continues to increase.
Michael is confident that a total ankle replacement was the right decision. Resuming his daily walks was important, but for Michael it was much more. “I wanted to be mobile again,” he said.
Michael 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.