Healthscope Orthopaedics Services

Your feet and ankles are easy to take for granted, but they play a vital role in everyday life. As well as handling your body weight, healthy ankles and feet enable you to walk, run and do things you enjoy – like sports and hobbies. Ankle or foot problems can significantly affect your day-to-day activities.

Foot and ankle arthritis is a leading cause of pain, stiffness and movement difficulties. Arthritis in the foot or ankle can often be managed with conservative measures, such as with supportive shoes and activity modification. Sometimes, surgery is needed to manage pain and improve function.

Our world-class orthopaedic surgeons are experts at managing ankle and foot arthritis. We offer state-of-the-art care, with a focus on providing treatment to suit your goals and lifestyle.

What causes foot and ankle arthritis?

Arthritis is inflammation of a joint caused by injury to the normally smooth surface of the joint. Arthritis can be primary or secondary, including for example, from a systemic inflammatory condition, trauma or gout. The symptoms of arthritis include pain, stiffness and deformity of the joint.

Osteoarthritis is a common cause of foot and ankle problems. It involves a gradual wearing away of the joint surface or cartilage. Osteoarthritis most commonly affects people over 50, but it can also affect younger people.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues. It can affect multiple joints and is common in the feet and ankles. It causes inflammation in the joint lining, which is known as the synovium.

Other types of arthritis that can affect the ankles and feet include gout and psoriatic arthritis.

People who are overweight or have a family history of arthritis may have a higher risk of developing the condition.

What are the symptoms of ankle and foot arthritis?

Trouble weight bearing or walking

Discomfort or pain

Stiffness

Swelling

Warmth or redness

Tenderness to the touch

How is foot and ankle arthritis diagnosed?

A qualified healthcare professional like your doctor can make the diagnosis. They will ask you questions about your symptoms, such as how they started and how they affect your daily life.

They will also examine your ankles and feet. They will check for signs of redness, swelling or tenderness, as well as looking at your foot and ankle movement and walking.

Your doctor might arrange imaging tests such as an X-ray or MRI or send you for blood tests to check for underlying conditions. They might refer you to an orthopaedic specialist for an expert opinion and guidance with treatment decisions.

Ankle and foot arthritis treatment

Treatment for foot and ankle arthritis aims to relieve pain and help get you back to your everyday activities. As with all conditions, there are non-operative and operative options for treating ankle and foot arthritis.

Non-surgical management of neck and back pain

There are many ways to manage ankle and foot arthritis that don’t involve surgery.
These include:

Lifestyle changes

Making some changes to your daily life can help to ease pain and limit progression of the disease. Examples include:
• Cutting back on activities that aggravate your symptoms
• Switching high-impact exercises (such as jogging or team sports) for lower impact alternatives (such as walking, cycling or swimming)
• Getting support to achieve a healthy weight.

Podiatry

Podiatrists focus on conditions affecting the feet. They can provide education and advice about foot care, suitable footwear and exercises. They may prescribe a custom-fitted shoe insert.

Medications

Your doctor might recommend medications such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation in your ankle or foot. They might also suggest you have a corticosteroid injection.

Assistive devices

Devices such as braces, shoe inserts or custom-made shoes may help to ease pressure on the foot and ankle and relieve pain.

Surgery for ankle and foot arthritis

Surgery may be recommended if your symptoms haven’t responded to conservative treatment. The type of surgery you might need will depend on the type of arthritis, where it’s located, and how it’s affecting your life.

Your doctor can answer your questions and discuss which type of ankle or foot surgery might be best for you.

Operations for foot and ankle arthritis include:

Joint fusion (arthrodesis)

A fusion aims to relieve symptoms by preventing movement of the arthritic joint which causes the pain. It involves connecting the bones on either side of the joint using surgical pins, plates, rods or screws. Over time, the bones fuse together – just like the ends of a broken bone knit together. With the joint no longer there, symptoms should go away.

Arthroscopy

Arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery might be advised during earlier stages of foot or ankle arthritis. The surgeon uses a specialised camera and instruments to see inside your joints and perform procedures. For example, they might remove bony spurs, or trim away damaged or inflamed cartilage or synovium.

Joint replacement

This involves replacing the damaged joint with an artificial articulation made of metal and strong plastic. Unlike a fusion, an ankle replacement aims to preserve movement of the joint. Total ankle replacement surgery is not as common as total hip replacement or total knee replacement. However, advances in surgery and implant design have made this option increasingly suitable for many people.

How long does it take to recover from ankle and foot arthritis?

Arthritis is a chronic condition and there is no cure. However, symptoms can usually be well managed with the right treatment. If you have a flare-up, it will usually settle within days or weeks.

Surgery for ankle and foot arthritis may be done as a day procedure, or it might involve a hospital stay. Recovery time will vary significantly depending on which type of surgery you have. For example, you might recover from an arthroscopy in a few weeks, whereas it could take at least a year to recover fully from a major operation, such as a joint fusion or replacement.

Your specialist can talk to you about how long it might take to recover from surgery for foot or ankle arthritis.