ARTHRITIC ANKLES BEING REPLACED BY CADAVER BONES

June 30, 2004

June 25, 2004

Surgery Offers New Hope for Mobility and Pain Relief

Washington, D.C. Orthopedic surgeon , MD, says, ³In the 12

years I¹ve been a foot and ankle surgeon, this is the most exciting thing

I¹ve been able to offer my patients.²

Called alograft ankle transplant, Dr. can use the ankle of a cadaver

to replace an ankle damaged by arthritis or trauma.

Dr. said, ³ This gives people age 20-50 or people who are overweight

a new option. Our old method was to fuse the ankle or wait until the patient

was 55 to perform an ankle replacement. Now we have a method, which is not

as traumatic or extensive a surgery as an ankle replacement. There is no

organ rejection, so patients do not need to be on anti-rejection medications

after surgery.²

The way it works is Dr. cuts out the area of the damaged ankle, then

cuts out the same area of the cadaver ankle. He then fits them together like

pieces of a puzzle. The surgery takes about an hour.

³The other nice thing about this procedure is that even though we don¹t know

the life expectancy of the new ankle, we haven¹t burned bridges in terms of

future treatments. We can still go back and put in an artificial ankle

replacement or fuse the ankle later if necessary we have to,² Dr.

said.

³The metal and plastic artificial ankle replacements have been available in

the United States for the past five years. Although preliminary reports

indicated a 92% survivorship of the implant, recent reports have not been as

encouraging,² Dr. said.

³Outcomes vary, with the ideal patients being over age 55, less active and

not overweight. This leaves few options, other than fusion, for younger

people with advanced arthritis. This procedure of using a cadaver ankle

fills that need. Early reports with Allograft ankle replacements at

town have shown marked improvement in pain, flexibility and gait. To

date, a 100% graft acceptance has been noted.²

=92

Recommended Posts