Throughout her life, 65-year old Patricia of Bayville, N.J. has been a caretaker. A mother, daughter and nurse’s aide, Patricia has always put others first - whether it was her children, her elderly parents or her patients. However, when Patricia’s left ankle gave out in 2010, a result of a previous injury and arthritis, living life as she was accustomed to became quite difficult.
“I broke my ankle 30 years ago playing soccer with my son,” said Patricia. “The doctors inserted a pin and a plate as a quick solution, but over time, my ankle deteriorated. Working 12 hours a day in a busy hospital, I was routinely putting too much pressure on my ankle. It got to the point where just walking around the house became extremely difficult.”
Patricia received injections in her left ankle over the years to ease the discomfort, but they were largely ineffective, leaving her in constant pain. The magnitude of the injury was amplified in the 2000’s, when Patricia cared for her two elderly parents, a difficult task that proved even more challenging when walking with a limp.
In 2010 Patricia slipped at work, leaving her in crutches and virtually immobile. An MRI confirmed the bad news that Patricia’s ankle, which had become progressively worse over the years, was now arthritic. No longer able to work 12-hour shifts or live the active lifestyle she enjoyed, Patricia sought a solution to eradicate her pain. After reading a story in the newspaper about total ankle replacements, Patricia decided it was time to finally repair the ankle that had been causing her so much distress.
Patricia visited Dr. Shane Hollawell at the Orthopedic Institute of Central Jersey and he confirmed that she was a good candidate for an artificial ankle. In September 2010, Dr. Hollawell implanted the INBONE® Total Ankle Replacement from Wright Medical into Patricia’s left foot. After a few weeks of rehabilitation, she was able to walk without discomfort for the first time in decades.
Today, Patricia is pain-free. A recent retiree, she is spending most of her time at the gym, an activity that was not possible for most of her adult life. Patricia can now be found in the pool doing water aerobics, riding her bike and using a treadmill. She’s even planning on making a return to the golf course, an activity she had to give up several years ago .
“I’ve always been an active person. The ability to live my life without pain again has been wonderful,” says Patricia. “The mobility of my new ankle has made living a lot easier. I’m very glad I did it.”
Patricia 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.