Post-traumatic ankle arthritis

Post-traumatic ankle arthritis can be a very disabling condition especially in young patients. Localization of the pain is important to allow appropriate treatment. Non-surgical treatment options include anti-inflammatory medications and use of bracing. Multiple surgical options range from joint sparing procedures for the younger patient to total ankle replacement for the older, less active patient. Arthrodesis remains the gold standard and is the procedure of choice for younger patients who are heavy laborers and in patients with severe arthritis who are not candidates for a total ankle replacement. Joint sparing operations include allograft resurfacing, arthroscopic debridement and osteophyte resection, joint distraction arthroplasty, and supramalleolar osteotomy. In older low demand patients, the surgeon may consider a total ankle arthroplasty as an alternative to arthrodesis.