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Patient Stories

I developed disabling traumatic arthritis as a result of a skiing accident over 15 years ago.

Six years ago Dr. Reiley and I discussed the state of ankle joint replacement and its discouraging failure rate. Although I was becoming increasingly disabled, unable to walk more than a city block - and that with difficulty and residual pain - I elected to wait for the FDA approval of his new INBONE™ ankle replacement.

I had my "Total Ankle" surgery a year ago and am delighted with the results! I am pain free and able to walk over a mile and sail my boat on the open ocean with no difficulty. This surgery has opened (or reopened) a whole new world for me!

I'm particularly grateful for Dr. Reiley's persistence and support as well as for the genius that created the new device

Sincerely,

William R Forsythe, M.D.

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.

The first time that I walked without pain in 10 years was after I received my new INBONE™ ankle. Seven months post-op, I was playing golf, and walking the course.

Terry W. Hensle, MD, New York, NY

I had an ankle replacement with another product 4 years ago and I was still living with daily pain. I walked with a limp and on the outside of my foot because my ankle would roll over.

Since my surgery with the INBONE™ ankle I am now pain free, the first time in over 4 years. I can walk normal with my foot straight and I no longer have a limp. I can finally return to living my active daily life.

Robin

The ankle is a God send.

Jerry

After a lifetime of foot/ankle pain and limitation due to a congenital defect (tarsal coalition), I spent two years carefully researching the alternatives available for my severely deteriorated ankle joints. Because of the severe malalignment, it was clear that the other ankle replacement models would not work. Until I learned of Mark Reiley’s INBONE™ model, I was preparing for double amputation in hopes that I would have less pain and be more mobile with those prostheses.

I was unable to walk even a block without excruciating pain and used a mobility scooter to get around inside the house. I used motorized carts in grocery stores and a wheelchair in public facilities like airports, hotels, museums, galleries, etc. Severe pain (8-9 of 10) was constant in my increasingly limited daily activities. I took prescription anti-inflammatories and Vicodin just to get around the house, and Neurontin when the nerve pain was worse at night. While these medications helped, the chronic pain had a very negative effect on my mental and emotional well-being, in addition to severely limiting my physical movement and activities.

At my first consultation with Dr.Reiley in May 2006 he determined that the INBONE™ was a good match for my ankle problems, and we scheduled the first surgery for July 2006. Because my insurance company considered ankle replacement to be “investigational”, I had to go through the entire appeal process before it was approved. Finally, in February 2007 I received my first INBONE™ ankle and was weight-bearing at 8 weeks. I’ve had no pain, swelling, or other problems during the recovery period. In fact, with only one good ankle, I enjoyed the most active and pain-free period in the last 20 years. For example, I was able to pick blueberries on rough ground, walk for an hour through the Saturday Market, do my grocery shopping standing up, entertain overnight guests, and I’ve had more energy than I can remember!

In October 2007 I received the second INBONE™ ankle and the early part of the recovery has been exceptionally smooth and pain free. Next week I’ll be out of the cast and learning to walk on my own two new feet! I’m looking forward to a full and active life with functional ankles for the first time ever!

Jeanne St. John, Ph.D, Newport, OR

For anyone that plays basketball, spraining one’s ankle can be a common occurrence. Steve, 63, can attest to that. When he began actively playing back in the 60’s, Steve frequently suffered from sprained ankles. His solution was to tape them or wear a brace. He loved the sport and refused to let the pain keep him off the court, that is until ten years ago when the pain in his ankles refused to subside.

Steve twice went to the orthopedic surgeons to have bone spurs removed, hoping that would help with the pain. When that did not work he went to several local physicians to consultabout his options. Since Steve was only in his early 50’s his physicians felt he was too young to undergo a total ankle replacement since the implants available on the market at the time only proved to be effective for four years or less. Steve decided to tough it out and took Celebrex to help with the pain and swelling.

As an anthropology teacher at a local community college in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Steve had difficulty performing his job. The campus is laid out on a large area of land, requiring him to walk long distances to get from one classroom to the next. Standing on his feet all day also started to become a problem, causing his ankle to swell up so much that by the end of the day, he could barely walk.

Finally in 2007, his daughter did some research on ankle replacements and came across the INBONE™ Total Ankle. Having watched her father suffer for so many years, she convinced him to look into the new replacement. During his research, Steve found Dr. James DeOrio at Duke University in Durham, N.C. Since Dr. DeOrio had completed the most INBONE Total Ankle replacements, Steve decided to fly all the way to North Carolina from his home in Colorado to meet with him. On May 22nd, 2008, Steve had his ankle replaced at the Duke University Medical Center.

He remained in the hospital for 24 hours and was able to return home to Colorado after only three days. Steve is a member of a local rock ‘n roll band and was eager to get back to playing keyboards. After only two weeks, Steve was back on stage, his foot elevated on the keyboard amp while he played. His quick recovery continued and after eight weeks, he was walking around without crutches and more importantly without any pain.

"It’s amazing," Steve said. "For the first time in ten years I can walk up and down the stairs without having to hang on to a rail. I marvel at it. The whole family thinks it’s a miracle."

Steve has since returned to school for the new academic year. For the first time, he no longer has to leave extra time in between classes to walk across campus. According to his students and colleagues, this is the healthiest Steve has looked in years. As a whitewater canoeist, Steve can finally get back to fighting the rapid currents rather than the chronic pain in his ankles.

Steve 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 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 engineers designed a total ankle replacement that could 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.

Charlene and her husband were enjoying retirement. They traveled, had their family over for Sunday dinners and socialized regularly with friends. All of that changed on December 3, 1999 when Charlene fell down the stairs and broke her ankle in three places. Even after surgery and several months of physical therapy Charlene was still in pain. She believed her ankle wasn’t healing properly and made a follow-up appointment with her orthopedist. X-rays revealed she had ankle osteoarthritis. Her doctor suggested an ankle fusion to alleviate her pain but couldn’t guarantee her quality of life would improve. Charlene decided against undergoing a procedure that would limit her ankle’s range of motion without significant improvements to her quality of life. Despite medications, orthopedic casts and multiple consultations with surgeons, Charlene didn’t experience a single pain-free day for nine years.

Each morning when she put her foot on the floor to get out of bed Charlene experienced mind numbing pain. To walk from her bedroom to her kitchen, or from the car to a restaurant, she relied on crutches and a heavy, cumbersome boot. For longer trips to the mall or to the grocery store she needed a wheelchair. At church she was forced to sit in the back pews because she couldn’t endure the pain that walking to the front caused her. In addition to her limited mobility, Charlene gained twenty pounds.

Frustrated by her inability to live her life and the years of chronic, debilitating pain, Charlene was nearly ready to undergo an ankle fusion. However, because two years passed since her last consultation, she decided to schedule an appointment with Dr. Drew Murphy, hoping there was an alternative to ankle fusion.

After examining her ankle, reviewing her case history and viewing her x-rays, Dr. Murphy suggested Charlene consider the INBONE™ Total Ankle Replacement. Excited about an option other than an ankle fusion, Charlene brought home the literature to review with her husband. They were both impressed by the INBONE™ technology and the success of other INBONE™ ankle patients. After an in-depth discussion, they decided the only thing Charlene had to lose was the pain in her ankle. The next day she scheduled her surgery. Charlene received her INBONE™ Total Ankle Replacement on February 19, 2008. The results have been outstanding.

The night of Charlene’s surgery she awoke for the first time in nine years without throbbing pain. Eight weeks post surgery she took her first steps with the assistance of a walking boot. She could hardly believe that she didn’t have any pain. In fact, she had forgotten what it was like to walk from room to room in comfort. Fourteen weeks post surgery she was walking using a small brace, and within five months she was walking without braces, walking casts and most importantly, without pain. Charlene can hardly believe how far she has come in just over six months.

Today Charlene walks four to five mornings a week on her treadmill and has lost ten pounds. She and her husband enjoy hosting their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren for Sunday dinners. During a recent trip to a family pizzeria she kept up with her great-grandchildren. Once again, Charlene and her husband are planning trips and socializing with friends. This is the retirement life that they envisioned, and now she is healthy enough to enjoy it.

Charlene 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™ 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, engineers designed a total ankle replacement intended to stand the test of time.

George, 60, spends his entire day on his feet as a Cable TV technician. His job requires constant mobility and agility while climbing up and down ladders. For the past four years George has suffered from rheumatoid arthritis which eventually progressed to osteoarthritis. In fact, his arthritis was so severe it broke down all the cartilage in his ankle. George could no longer walk without pain. His ankle had swollen to the point that not even his arthritis medication could ease his pain.

After 3 years of suffering, George could no longer bare to have arthritis take over his life. He consulted Dr. Steve Brigido at Coordinated Health to discuss his options. Dr. Brigido informed George that, due to the severity of his arthritis, he had no other option but to fuse or replace his damaged ankle. At this point, ankle implants were relatively new technology and lacked a proven track record. This left George with only the option of ankle fusion. George was not ready to make such a drastic decision so he continued to suffer through another year of pain. After a year had passed and George’s pain had further increased, he knew it was time to make a decision. It was when he returned to Dr. Brigido to further discuss an ankle fusion that Dr. Brigido informed George of a new implant known as the INBONE™ Total Ankle. According to Dr. Brigido, the INBONE™ Total Ankle had reduced the survivorship risks associated with the previous implants. George took Dr. Brigido’s advice and decided on the INBONE™ Total Ankle. George received his implant on May 20, 2008.

After ankle replacement surgery, George was back to work full time in just over eight weeks. Before his surgery, George anticipated his return to work to be a struggle. Knowing that he would be on his feet all day, he wasn’t sure how his new ankle would hold up. Since being back to work, he has not had any issues carrying on his daily activities. “Compared to the state my foot was in before my surgery, it’s as if I have an entirely new foot!” George exclaims. He now enjoys all family activities without ankle pain.

George 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™ 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™ engineers designed a total ankle replacement intended to stand the test of time.