Non-metal Ankle Replacement Designed

Patients with severe ankle arthritis have been faced with just two surgical options -- a total ankle replacement or an ankle fusion. Now, there's a third option and researchers believe the non-metal, biologic ankle replacement will perform best. Daniel K. Lee at University of California San Diego Medical Center, who developed the new biologic ankle replacement explained that the new design restores the ankle with an FDA-approved biologic material, similar to collagen found in cartilage.

The surgery is a 2 hour minimally-invasive procedure during which Dr. Lee removes damaged cartilage from the ankle joint through a 4 centimeter incision. The collagen material is molded into the joint where it adapts to the contour of the patient's own ankle. The advantage seems obvious -- the biologic ankle implant can be customized for each individual ankle. The biologic material is processed from human or animal collagen sources and has been used for a decade in other types of surgery. An external fixation brace is used for 4 to 6 weeks to "distract" the ankle, so the biologic material can fully mesh with the ankle joint. Once the external fixation brace is removed, the hope is that the biologic ankle will offer the patient better mobility and stability in the ankle joint.

Related Resources:

• What Is an Ankle Fusion?
• Too Young For Joint Replacement?
• 20 Tips To Help You Prepare For Surgery
• Joint Replacement Screening Quiz - When Is It The Right Time?

_{Photo © UC San Diego Medical Center}