Many people are aware of the existence and benefits of artificial hips and knees; however, options for
patients who spent years suffering from painful ankle osteoarthritis have been limited. Today, advancements
in technology have made artificial ankles a more durable alternative as Ron, a 63 year-old resident of
Spring Branch, Texas can attest.
Ron spent the better part of 40 years on his feet — literally. After playing college football, he spent
the majority of his leisure time golfing and playing with his young son. As a telephone company repairman,
Ron’s job kept him upright constantly. Eventually, the physical toll caught up with him and in his early
30s he began to suffer from arthritis. Throughout the years, Ron underwent multiple surgeries for knee and
rotator cuff problems. However, nothing was more painful than his arthritic ankles, which eventually forced
him to spend more than two and a half years in a wheelchair.
Over the past 30 years, Ron developed a system to determine how long he could be on his feet before he
needed to rest. However, as the years progressed so did his arthritis: he gradually had to cut back on his
recreational activities and eventually started walking with a limp. Frustrated by his pain and suffering,
Ron decided to replace his left ankle in late 2005.
Although Ron was optimistic that the procedure would help him reclaim his active lifestyle, his hopes were
short lived. Six months post-surgery, a medication that Ron was taking to treat an autoimmune disorder caused
his bone marrow to deteriorate and led to a very serious blood infection. As a result, his body rejected the
original ankle implant and it was surgically removed. When his doctor thought the infection was cleared, Ron
underwent surgery again to have another artificial ankle implanted. However, the blood infection persisted,
leaving him extremely weak. Again, the device was removed, but this time was replaced with an antibiotic block,
a bone cement mixture that contains antibiotics which is implanted into the joint to fight infections. The
antibiotic block is left in the body until the infection clears. In addition to the many complications with
his left ankle, the arthritis in his right ankle was becoming increasingly worse.
Ron spent all of 2007 and 2008, and part of 2009, in a wheelchair because of the many complications with his
left ankle. As a result of his inactivity, he gained 30 pounds. Although his family feared the worst, he never
lost hope that he would walk again. His wife and son were amazed by his resilience, but deep down they thought
he would be wheelchair bound for the rest of his life.
Everything changed one day in the spring of 2009 when Ron read about the latest advancement in artificial
ankles, the INBONE® Total Ankle Replacement System from Wright. Dr. Marvin Brown of The San
Antonio Orthopaedic Group thought Ron was a good candidate to have his right ankle replaced with the
INBONE® Total Ankle. Due to the many complications with his left ankle, however, Dr. Brown
suggested fusing it to alleviate the pain. Ron underwent INBONE® surgery on his right ankle in
August 2009 and the ankle fusion, on his left, in December 2009. Less than one year after both surgeries,
Ron put his wheelchair in storage and hasn’t looked back.
Immediately after waking from the first surgery, Ron noticed that his right ankle felt stronger and more
durable than it had with the previous replacement and committed himself to the physical therapy that was
needed to regain the mobility he once enjoyed. By the time he underwent ankle fusion surgery for his left
ankle, he had completed the recovery for his INBONE® ankle and was feeling great. Today, Ron
is a completely different person. He and his wife are traveling, he is back on the golf course, and is once
again able to play catch with his son and grandson. As Ron says, “I always knew I would walk again and that
I would find the right option for me. One of the best moments occurred when I danced with my wife again for
the first time in three years.”
Ron 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 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.