ORTHOPEDICS/LEG, FOOT & ANKLE/THERAPY & SURGERY
Ankle Pain/Causes and Therapy options
Ankle pain certain types may be treated with Arthroscopic ankle surgery.
Generally, an arthroscopic surgery consist of inserting a small camera inside the joint. Then, through other small incisions, tools can be inserted to restore or remove the damaged structures.
Arthroscopic ankle surgery is frequently called “scoping the ankle” or arthroscopy.
Arthroscopic Ankle Surgery /Four causes
Not all ankle pain causes can be efficiently treated with an arthroscopic technique.
Here below are four causes to perform an arthroscopic ankle surgery:
1. Reinstating Ankle Cartilage Injury
Small and isolated zones of damaged cartilage damage are occasionally found in people who have sustained ankle joint injuries.
In fact, this cartilage damage, if kept untreated, may lead to the development of a joint widespread arthritis.
Ankle arthroscopy is commonly used to assess these damaged cartilage zones to try reinstating the normal cartilage surface to the joint.
Reinstating a cartilage surface can be performed by either restoring the damaged cartilage, or by trying to stimulate new cartilage growth with a micro crack cartilage transfer, or also by a chondrocyte implantation process.
2. Ankle Joint Bone Limbs Removal
Bone limbs can form in the ankle joint front, causing the ankle to squeeze.
This disorder, accurately termed anterior ankle impingement syndrome, is also called athlete’s ankle or footballer’s ankle.
Ankle arthroscopy can be performed to shave down the bone spur on the joint front, allowing ankle joint improved mobility.
3. Loose Debris or Scar Tissue Removal
Ankle joint damage can cause the accumulation of scar tissue (or debris) within the ankle joint.
Removing debris or scar tissue may be helpful in reinstating mobility and lessening inflammation and pain inside the joint.
4. Posterior Ankle Pain /Therapy
Pain in the ankle back can occasionally be treated arthroscopically. Some tendonitis types and some bone limbs in the ankle back may be treated arthroscopically.
Ankle Pain/Surgical Technique
Ankle arthroscopy can be performed under general or local anesthesia.
Following an appropriate anesthesia, the specialist will open ‘portals’ to gain access to the ankle joint. The portals are situated in specific positions to minimize the damage potential to the surrounding nerves, blood vessels, and tendons.
Through one portal, a camera is fixed into the joint, and through the others, small tools can be used to address the problem.
After surgery, the restored ankle will be wrapped in a soft bandage or splint.
Most of the patients will then work with a physical therapist to regain joint motion and strength.
The rehabilitation period will vary depending on which technique was performed at the surgery time.
Ankle pain surgery/Complications
The most concerning complication of arthroscopic ankle surgery is an eventual damage to one of the nerves or tendons that surround the ankle joint.
Other complications may include inflammation and damage to the joint cartilage due to the arthroscopy tools.