People suffering from ankle arthritis can now benefit from what doctors call arthroplasty - a method of ankle replacement surgery - that would allow people who have a hard time walking to walk again without pain.

According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, technological advancements in ankle replacements are opening more opportunities for people suffering from debilitating ankle arthritis. With the new ankle replacement surgery, people with ankle arthritis can have a complete turnaround and participate in life once again.

"With contemporary arthroplasty, ankle arthritis sufferers who thought their situation was hopeless can get a new lease on life," said Shannon Rush, DPM, FACFAS, a Fellow Member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and surgeon at Palo Alto Medical Foundation, in Mountain View, CA. "For years they were told they'd always be in pain, but ankle replacement has totally changed their lives-they can now walk with ease, stop going to the pain clinic, and stop taking powerful opioid medications."

Ankle replacement surgery involves replacing a damaged joint with an implant (prosthesis) that serves as an artificial joint. The surgery provides important advantages over the historically standard technique of fusing the ankle joint.

"Although fusion eliminates pain and treats the arthritis, it often leaves the patient with a stiff leg and difficulty walking," said. Rush. "Fusion also increases the likelihood of developing arthritis in the adjacent joints due to ankle immobility."

Ankle replacement surgery gets rid of the pain while also maintaining full range of motion different from what fusion does to patients.

"It lets you walk with a normal gait and perform activities you couldn't do comfortably with a fusion," said Rush. "It also takes stress off the joints below and in front of the ankle, decreasing the risk of arthritis developing there."

Ankle arthroplasty is usually performed on people in their 40s through 60s, younger than typically seen with knee and hip replacements.