Ankle Arthroscopy for Arthritis, Bone Spurs, Fractures, and More
Dr. Andrew Elbert, our dedicated foot and ankle specialist, is trained to perform ankle arthroscopy. This advanced surgery employs an arthroscope, a thin flexible tube containing a camera and other instruments, to treat several types of conditions in the ankle joint. It is a minimally invasive approach that allows more rapid recovery compared to conventional methods. Dr. Elbert is a board-certified surgeon who has extensive experience in arthroscopic procedures. He will take several measures to ensure your ankle procedure goes smoothly at our Cedar Park or Austin, TX, surgical centers.
About the Ankle Joint
The ankle joint is made up of the tibia and the fibula, which are the leg bones, as well as the talus, or ankle bone. These are all connected with ligaments and tendons. These structures give the ankle its range of motion, allowing you to walk, run, and jump. When damage or injury occurs, mobility becomes limited. This can have a dramatic impact on your comfort and overall quality of life.
What Conditions Can Ankle Arthroscopy Treat?
There are many different conditions we can treat with arthroscopic surgery, including:
- Ankle fusion to treat arthritis
- Repair of fractures
- File down abnormal bone growths or bone spurs
- Treatment for osteoarthritis
- Flush out infection
- Repair damaged, stretched, or torn ligaments
Arthroscopy allows for advanced surgical treatment of these conditions with minor incisions and shortened recovery periods.
What to Expect During the Procedure
Once you are comfortably sedated, Dr. Elbert will create two or more incisions on the ankle. In the first, he will insert the arthroscope, which contains a small camera. This will allow him a full view of the ankle without creating a large incision. To expand the joint for a better view, he will add a sterile saline solution. He will insert instruments through the other incision and work precisely to clear out any infected tissue, file down bone growths, repair damage, and more. Once he has repaired the ankle joint, he will carefully close the incisions.
Compared to traditional surgical methods, ankle arthroscopy can minimize scarring, reduce the risk of surgical infection, and allow for faster recovery.
Although arthroscopy provides patients with more rapid recovery than traditional surgical techniques, the healing process may still take several months. Individual recovery times vary based on the patient’s overall health and physical activity levels. Your recovery may include physical therapy to restore full range of motion.
Why Consider Arthroscopy?
Dr. Elbert can perform most surgeries on the ankle through arthroscopy. Rather than creating one or more large incisions to access the ankle joint, he can create just two small incisions. This minimizes scarring, reduces the risk of surgical infection, and allows for faster recovery. Patients who follow the post-operative instructions provided by Dr. Elbert can expect to see dramatic improvements in discomfort and range of motion following ankle arthroscopy.
Find Out if Ankle Arthroscopy is Right for You
Whether you sprained your ankle and it did not heal properly or you have arthritis, ankle arthroscopy may be able to help. Contact Orthopaedic Specialists of Austin online today or call (512) 476-2830 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Elbert. He can view x-rays and other images of your ankle to determine the cause of pain and whether surgical treatment is appropriate.
