What You Need to Know About Ankle Arthritis

Arthritis is a broad term that can refer to a number of conditions. Arthritis of the ankle is most often identified as one of the following:

• Osteoarthritis: Caused by degeneration or wear-and-tear within a joint, osteoarthritis causes inflammation, swelling, and pain when the cartilage within a joint becomes worn down.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: An inflammatory disease that causes the breakdown of cartilage, rheumatoid arthritis is often unpredictable in the joints that it affects. Its cause is unknown.
• Post-Traumatic Arthritis: Following an injury to the ankle, such as a dislocation or a fracture, a patient may develop post-traumatic arthritis.

You may be experiencing arthritis of the ankle if you have pain or tenderness within your ankle joint, stiffness and reduced motion, swelling, and difficulty walking.

If your arthritis does not respond to nonsurgical treatment, you may be a candidate for debridement, ankle fusion, or total ankle replacement surgery.

To determine the best treatment option for your condition, schedule an appointment with one of the ankle doctors at Orthopaedic Associates by calling 850-863-2153 or clicking here to schedule an appointment online.