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Jan 12, 2025 2 min read

When persistent or severe arthritis from a chronic ankle injury or fracture makes walking, exercise, or climbing stairs unbearable, it’s time to consider your treatment options. Ankle replacement surgery can relieve ankle pain and restore motion when nonsurgical treatments are not effective. Foot and ankle surgeons at WVU Medicine routinely perform a variety of ankle surgeries and revisions, from ankle fusion to ankle replacement.

The fellowship-trained experts at WVU Medicine have extensive experience in surgically treating ankle pain with the expertise to recommend total ankle replacements to people who would otherwise not be considered candidates.

Total ankle replacement is often the treatment of choice for people who want to continue their active lifestyles. Because the artificial ankle is designed to closely mimic the joint’s natural movement, patients can walk with an improved gait with less pain and a greater range of motion. This spares the other parts of the knee and ankle that can wear out following an ankle fusion procedure. Some patients who have had an ankle fusion may be candidates for ankle replacement surgery to restore movement and function.

Our main goal is to alleviate pain and restore daily function as quickly as possible.

We provide evaluation, management, and rehabilitation of problems related to the ankle and foot.

The clinical expertise of the WVU Medicine team, combined with modern technology solutions, allows us to offer high-quality care for a wide range of foot and ankle disorders and injuries, including:

• Accessory navicular bone (extra bone/cartilage on inner side of foot)

• Achilles tendon tear

• Ankle Replacement

• Ankle Fractures

• Ankle instability (“giving out” easily)

• Arthritis

• Benign bone tumor

• Bone lesion (abnormal bone growth)

• Bunions

• Cartilage injuries/disorders

• Cavus foot (high arch)

• Clubfoot/Flatfoot

• Foot fractures

• Gout

• Stiff big toe

• Hammer toes

• Forefoot pain

• Orthotics

• Damaged cartilage/bone

• Plantar fasciitis

• Sports injuries and Stress fractures

• Tendinitis

• Tendon injuries/rupture

When scans are necessary, we use a weight-bearing CT scan, during which the patient is standing upright and putting weight on their foot and ankle while the scan is taken. This type of imaging provides better detail than an x-ray evaluating arthritis, foot or ankle deformities, and other diseases that affect the bones in the ankle or foot. Weight-bearing CT scans are available in our clinic and, if approved, can be performed during the initial evaluation.

For an appointment call 855-WVU-CARE

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