Forty years ago, Ronald was working in a manufacturing plant when he jumped off a fork lift and landed
awkwardly on his right ankle. He immediately felt a surge of pain and assumed that it was broken. His boss
underestimated the injury and handed him some arthritis pills to help him manage the pain. Ronald took the
pills for a month while the bone healed incorrectly.
Since then, not a day has gone by that Ronald has not been in pain. He was forced to wear high top shoes
to alleviate the pressure on his ankle and often fell while walking. Stairs were a problem, forcing him to
climb or descend sideways. “It was as if I was walking on broken glass all the time,” Ronald said.
Over time, after the pain spread to Ronald‘s neck and back, he visited a chiropractor for some help. Learning
that his new problems were caused by his original ankle injury, Ronald had finally had enough. He did not want
to spend another minute in pain and scheduled an appointment with Dr. Craig Breslauer, a podiatrist at South
Florida Orthopedics.
Ronald’s x-rays were eye-opening: he had severe arthritis, a few bone spurs and no cartilage left in his ankle,
which explained why it felt as though he was always walking on glass. Dr. Breslauer recommended an INBONE®
Total Ankle Replacement. The INBONE® implant design closely matches that of a natural ankle, allowing
patients flexibility and mobility as they walk.
Ronald underwent the procedure in July of 2009 and was able to return home the following day. Ronald was given pain
medication for the procedure but only needed one pill. In fact, Ronald was so impressed by his new artificial ankle that
he recommended the INBONE® ankle replacement to one of his friends.
Four months post surgery, Ronald is a changed man, able to walk on his own without pain for the first time in forty years.
“My new ankle has been absolutely fabulous. I’ve had no pain since the surgery and everything went terrific,” he said.
“The results have been absolutely fantastic. I no longer feel like I am walking on glass.”
Ronald 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 viable 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 intended to stand the test of time.
The prosthesis consists of two main pieces: a tibial component and a talar component. The tibial component
features a high strength polyethylene piece secured within a titanium 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 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 rotates effortlessly on the highly polished metal surface of the talar component,
resulting in 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.