Foot and Ankle Doctors Revise Total Ankle Replacement

Shasta Ortho Foot and Ankle Doctors Provide Total Ankle Replacement Revision (TAR)

Foot Doctor Helps With Foot Deformities In Shasta County

Dr. Garret Strand, DPM

Dr. Garret Strand, DPM at Shasta Orthopaedics in Redding, is one of the foot and ankle doctors who can help people needing TAR surgery. Total ankle replacement (TAR) revision surgery means doctors need to uncover why the initial replacement did not work. From there, Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPMs) establish a plan to address the remnant pain.

After diagnostic appointments, foot and ankle specialists like Dr. Strand help patients receive the right treatment and medical care. This article examines a case study involving a 69-year-old patient who came to Shasta Orthopaedics with generalized ankle pain.

What is Total Ankle Replacement (TAR) Surgery?

Total ankle replacement surgery (TAR) is also known as ankle arthroplasty. It is a surgical treatment option for patients who, in most cases, have arthritis in their ankle from worn cartilage. TAR surgery can keep mobility in the joint by removing portions of bones and cartilage, and replacing them with prosthetic implants.

Ideally, TAR surgery reduces pain and solves the issue. Sometimes, TAR surgery needs follow-up revisions, which is where TAR revision appointments and surgeries can help.

Shasta Ortho Foot Doctors Provide Total Ankle Replacement Revision

Case Study: Total Ankle Replacement Revision Success

A patient was experiencing generalized pain in their right ankle. Someone referred the patient to Shasta Orthopaedics, where Dr. Strand assessed if revision TAR or ankle fusion would be best.

After a physical exam, Dr. Strand noticed the patient had difficulty with dorsiflexion of the ankle joint; in other words, their up-down ankle mobility was limited. The patient also had to externally rotate their leg to walk. An x-ray revealed a previous cadence implant with tibial migration and malalignment to the longitudinal tibial axis. At this point, Dr. Strand provided revision TAR to address the malalignment.

Ankle fusion was also an option, but Dr. Strand felt that a well-aligned implant was crucial for the weight-bearing lower extremities. As the postoperative photo shows, the implant is right where it should be now, which should reduce the ankle pain that the patient was experiencing before.

See more foot and ankle case studies from the Shasta Ortho Foot & Ankle Institute.