Ankle Surgery

Ankle Surgery Can
Improve Your Life

Are you having severe ankle pain? Are you unable to walk or stand without help or a walking aid, such as a cane? If standing up or taking a step causes you severe pain in your ankle, you may need ankle surgery to fully restore your ability to move.

Dr. Andrew Ebert is a board-certified surgeons in Austin, TX, who specializes in advanced ankle surgery and can get you back on your feet.

Treating your ankle injury and pain can prevent you from developing other orthopedic health issues like arthritis and bunions. Surgery performed by Dr. Ebert at our Austin, Texas, surgical center can prevent further damage and restore your mobility by:

Relieving chronic foot pain
Improving walking and standing abilities
Allowing you to exercise again
Eliminating the need for a cane, walker, wheelchair, or assistance

Is Ankle Pain Common?

Extremely. According to a study by the Journal of Athletic Training (JAT):

23,000 people injure their ankle every day in the United States
72% of these people are unable to maintain previous activity levels after their injury

If ankle pain from an injury or a condition such as arthritis is not getting better with medication or physical therapy, contact us online to schedule a surgical consultation with Dr. Ebert today, at our Leander and Austin, TX, offices. They can help you get your quality of life back!

Find Out Which Surgery Could
Reduce Your Pain

Contact our offices if you struggle to walk or experience pain while doing daily activities. Leaving an ankle injury or pain untreated can lead to further damage and a longer recovery. A consultation at our practice allows you to meet Dr. Ebert and ask any questions about your potential treatment or cause of pain. Our physicians will assess your ankle and symptoms to determine which option can best restore your ankle's function.

Don't wait for your pain to worsen. Email our Austin, TX, practice today or give us a call.

Call (512) 476-2830 Request My Consultation

What Can Ankle Surgery Heal?

Injuries and Chronic Instability

Our ankles consist of hard-working bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments that move up and down and side-to-side. These control how much pressure is placed on our feet when we walk or run. Living with chronic pain or experiencing an injury to your ankle can severely limit your mobility. Ankle surgery by an experienced orthopedic surgeon, who has advanced training beyond what podiatrists receive, can relieve your pain and restore your mobility. Surgery to your ankle can help fix:

Ankle Fractures

An ankle fracture means one or more bones are broken in your ankle joint. This could be the result of an accident or injury and can cause severe pain and limit your ability to walk. Surgery to treat an ankle fracture requires a surgeon or podiatrist to reposition the out-of-place bones and fasten them with screws or metal plates. This restores the stability within the joint.

Arthritis

Severe arthritis can be extremely painful and limit how much weight your ankle can bear. When traditional medications and therapies are not enough to get you back on your feet, surgery may be recommended. Which type of surgery is needed depends on the severity of arthritis. For a severely damaged joint, you may need an ankle replacement.

Torn Ligament

A torn or severely strained ligament caused by a sports injury, accident, or fall can make your ankle unstable and unsafe to walk on. It can also cause severe pain while trying to put weight on the joint. Ankle surgery can remove, repair, or replace damaged tissue to restore stability within the joint. Through physical therapy, athletes can successfully play once again.

Torn Tendon

While ligaments attach bones, tendons work to move those bones and other structures. A torn tendon, like your Achilles, can severely limit your range of motion and ability to walk or play sports. Ankle surgery to repair a tendon will remove surrounding damaged tissue and replace the torn tendon to restore mobility and stability.

Ankle Surgery Procedures

Arthroscopy

This minimally invasive surgery uses a small camera, inserted through an incision, to examine ankle joint and tissue damage caused by injury or arthritis. Fractures, infections, and tears can be treated through the incision, as well. Recovery from arthroscopy is quicker than more complex surgical treatments.

Ankle Joint Replacement

If an ankle joint has been severely damaged by arthritis, total joint replacement surgery may be needed. Dr. Ebert will work to create a personalized treatment plan that will get you back to normal as quickly as possible, once a high-tech prosthetic ankle joint is in place.

Explore Ankle Replacement

Ankle Fracture Surgery

A fractured ankle bone can be extremely painful and cause swelling, bruising, and mobility issues. Dr. Ebert will use state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to locate your fractured bone and create a customized treatment plan to repair it with surgery.

Ankle Surgery FAQs

What Is Ankle Surgery Recovery Like?

This depends on your procedure. For minimally invasive procedures, you may only experience swelling or pain that can be managed with ice packs and medication. More complex procedures may require the use of crutches and wearing a cast for several weeks. Dr. Ebert will discuss recovery instructions with you during your ankle surgery consultation.

Is Ankle Surgery Painful?

Because ankle surgery can manipulate bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles in your foot and ankle, patients should expect some discomfort following surgery. Dr. Ebert can prescribe medication to help manage pain and swelling. Pain should slowly subside throughout the following days. Ultimately, patients can expect to live and move in greater comfort if pain was inhibiting their activities.

Can I Resume Sports Following Surgery?

Yes! Depending on the type of surgery, most patients should expect to be fully released from any restrictions between three to six months. Dr. Ebert will prescribe physical therapy following surgery to help strengthen your muscles and get your ankle ready for play.

The Process of Ankle Arthroscopy

This is one of the most minimally invasive surgical options to treat arthritis, fractures, bone spurs, and torn ligaments in the ankle. It is a preferred method as it requires small incisions and provides a quicker recovery.

Anesthesia

You will be put under general anesthesia for this surgery to ensure you are fully asleep and comfortable for the entire procedure.

Incisions

Once you are asleep, our surgeon will create two or more small incisions along the ankle.

Arthroscope

An arthroscope containing a small camera will be inserted through one of the incisions. This gives the surgeon a full view of the ankle without having to create any larger incisions.

Repair

Surgical tools will be used through one of the other incisions to remove infected tissue, shave down bone, repair tendon damage, and more. Once your repairs have been made, our surgeon will suture the incisions closed.

Recovery

Arthroscopy recovery is quicker than traditional methods, however, it can take several months to fully heal. Your recovery results can vary based on your overall health and level of physical activity. Physical therapy is typically needed to properly and fully rehabilitate your ankle.

Learn More About Arthroscopy Surgery

Are You Ready to
Live Pain Free?

It is the mission of all our surgeons at Orthopaedic Specialists of Austin to provide the least-invasive treatment options possible through the use of the latest in orthopedic technology. However, if surgery is necessary, you want an orthopedic specialist you can trust to give you the best outcome.

Dr. Ebert is board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon whose surgical training exceeds that of standard podiatrists. Our patients can be confident in their treatment plan knowing it is created by surgeons with multiple years of experience who took care to develop the best solution for them.

If you have suffered an ankle injury or are in chronic pain, contact Orthopaedic Specialists of Austin to request an appointment with our foot and ankle specialists.

Request a Consultation

Highly Trained

Dr. Ebert is highly trained in the latest surgical techniques, including minimally invasive procedures to improve ankle and foot function.

Highly Experienced

Our doctors can perform several ankle procedures a day, while general orthopedic surgeons and podiatrists at other practices in the Austin, TX, area may only do a few per year.

Highly Educated

Dr. Ebert underwent years of specialized training and passed a difficult certification exam given by an esteemed board of doctors. Not all surgeons achieve this distinction.