When Is a Total Ankle Replacement Necessary?

If you have chronic joint problems affecting your ankle, you may wonder if a total ankle placement is necessary to ensure you can continue to walk and get around. While this varies from patient to patient who has an ankle problem, certain factors could indicate you may benefit from this procedure. At Pivotal Foot & Ankle Surgeons, serving Independence, MO, St. Joseph, and Kansas City, MO, Dr. Russel Grimes, Dr. Ross Bartley, and Dr. Ben Olsen make this a last resort, but our physicians help our patients to understand if it's best for solution for them and when.

When You Have Severe Arthritis

Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes swelling in your joints. It can come from wear and tear of the joint or from the immune system attacking the joint, among other causes. One fact remains the same, though, it can be destructive to the joint. Not to mention, it can bring about a number of symptoms that can interrupt your life, such as pain and a lack of range of motion.

While you may not know for certain if you need a joint replacement at one of our locations, either in Independence, MO, Kansas City, MO, or St. Joseph, MO, a practitioner from one of our facilities can thoroughly assess you and determine the extent of arthritis. 

If it's not bad enough to require surgery as of yet, a physician from our practice can provide you with insight on how to optimize your life despite your arthritis. Our practitioner will then monitor you carefully and help you decide when a total ankle replacement is right for you. 

When You Sustained a Serious Injury

After a severe injury that affects the ankle joint, most of the joint may be damaged. In this case, you may need a total ankle replacement. On the other hand, a serious injury now could make you more susceptible to arthritis and you requiring a total ankle replacement in the future. 

Talk to Your Physician

While medical advancements have improved the surgery, recovery, and outlook of total ankle replacement surgery, it's still a major procedure that could prohibit you from working and doing what you love for a time being. Therefore, it's best to be used when no other options exist. In other words, you need to talk to your physician and ask questions to ensure you're making a decision that's best for you at the moment. 

At Pivotal Foot & Ankle Surgeons, serving Independence, MO, Dr. Grimes, Dr. Bartley, and Dr. Olsen can provide you with a total ankle replacement. 

Contact our office today by calling (816) 364-2338.

Locations

1005 A W St Maartens Dr,
St Joseph, MO 64506

  • Monday- Friday
    8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday
    Closed
  • Sunday
    Closed

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5844 NW Barry Road, Suite 300, Kansas City, MO 64154

  • Monday- Friday                                  8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday                                                                     Closed
  • Sunday                                                                        Closed