Ankle Arthritis Treatment

Ankle arthritis may arise from complications from gout, rheumatoid arthritis, or most commonly, osteoarthritis. An X-ray is the first step in diagnosing ankle arthritis. The joint will be blunted, and the 2mm of joint space on each side of the ankle will be obscured. Symptoms include ankle pain, pain during cold weather and when the weather changes, clicking, and crepitus. Treatments include ankle bracing, custom ankle bracing, and orthotics. If conservative treatments do not help, surgical options include ankle fusion, which eliminates motion at the ankle joint. Other surgical options include total ankle replacement, which maintains the motion at the ankle joint.