title: Total ankle joint replacement.
abstract: The ankle is an inherently stable, kinematically simple joint that bears tremendous compression forces with relative ease because of a large load-bearing surface area. Disabling disease of the ankle is less common than at the hip or knee joints, but is not rare. Ankle arthrodesis seems less than ideal as a technique of surgical treatment. Total ankle joint replacement seems to be a clinically possible alternative on the basis of experience with 76 procedures performed during a 31-month period. Continuing clinical experience is resulting in more gratifying results by the avoidance of technical errors and better selection of patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016512:Ankle Injuries; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery*; D001174:Arthrodesis; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D010007:Osteochondritis / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011542:Pseudarthrosis / Q000601:surgery; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000601:surgery