Ankle arthritis is commonly the result of either a direct injury into the joint such as an ankle fracture or the result of a long standing and symptomatic ankle instability.
It is not widely known that arthritis can affect the ankle. Although, the ankle is much less likely to be involved with arthritis than the hip or knee, it is still very common to be affected. This holds true for ankle problems associated with osteoarthritis.
Most ankle arthritis occurs following trauma to the ankle, so patients who have suffered severe ankle sprains or fractures in the ankle or the talus can develop post-traumatic arthritis. Other causes are due to normal degenerative changes much like people experience in the hip or knee joint.
The ankle joint is affected by arthritis much less often than other joints. When patients have ankle arthritis, they have worn out the joint between the shin bone and ankle bone. When the ankle is injured, it is also susceptible to an injury called osteonecrosis. When osteonecrosis occurs as the result of an ankle injury, a portion of the bone has damage to its blood flow.
If you are experiencing pain in your ankle but have not had any recent trauma or injury to your ankle, you may likely have arthritis of the ankle. Speak to your doctor about this at your next appointment and allow him to perform an examination and diagnostic testing.
About FootScientific
FootScientific was created by two practicing physicians and a physical therapist to give their patients the most well informed and comprehensive foot and ankle information available on the web. As opposed to isolating their practices and expertise, Dr. J. Robert Faux: Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Greg S. Anderson: Podiatrist, and Greg R. Thorpe: Physical Therapist fully integrate their expertise under one website – FOOT SCIENTIFIC. These three field leaders combine over 50 years of experience to help avoid the guess work on best methods, products, and services available for the foot and ankle.
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