What to expect from ankle replacement surgery?

Fair to good results: Most published reports related to total ankle arthroplasty have a fair to poor-quality level of evidence. Comparative studies with a fair to good-quality level of evidence suggest that total ankle arthroplasty provides equal pain relief and possibly improved function compared with other procedures.

2nd opinion.: Please get a 2nd opinion. Ankle replacement surgery is not a common procedure. Seek a 2nd or 3rd opinion and be sure the surgeons are board certified and have done more than a few of this specific procedure.

Pain relief: A successful ankle replacement should offer patient pain relief. Studies have shown that preoperative motion is at least maintained and often improved but this can not be guarnteed. Theorectically it should help prevent arthtritis in other joints of the foot that is seen in 80% of patients 10 years after an ankle fusion.