Readjustment (corrective osteotomy) as a form of treatment for ankle arthrosis

Causes for arthrosis and derived forms of therapy

Trauma is often the underlying cause for Ankle arthrosis, osteoarthritis of the upper ankle joint, indicating that there has either been a severe accident (with bone fracture) beforehand or several (sports) injuries of the tendons and ligaments of the cartilage. Often a poorly healed fracture results in osseous malposition or in case of a tendon-ligament injury the tilt of the ankle in the joint: a joint deformity.

Both of these malposition components (bone/joint) lead to physiological distress for the ankle joint, fostering the osteoarthritis. This leads to painful ankle arthrosis that manifests on average 12 to 15 years earlier than knee or hip arthrosis. As this leads to younger patients, joint-preserving treatments are of particular importance.

Sustainable treatment of this kind of arthrosis in stadium 3 is only possible by correcting the causes. One such correction method is the readjustment of the bone within and above the ankle joint, leading to relief for the joint and correction of the malposition.

Readjustment as a joint-preserving treatment

The methods to treat ankle arthrosis are diverse, but they are only successful if the treatment addresses the causes and is adjusted to the varying stages of progression. Based on the analysis of the reasons, an in-depth clinical examination and the radiographic axis measurement, we compile your treatment concept to preserve or recover your mobility and permanently treat the ankle arthrosis.

The readjustment is part of a joint-preserving treatment, only employed in cases of a stage 3 arthrosis. The operative reconstruction of the bones within and above the ankle joint put the joint back into its natural physiological alignment, and the malposition is thereby corrected. Stress on the joint is thus normalized, and the often partial overload reduced. That contributes to alleviating the acute condition and counters the progress of the ankle arthrosis. Within the readjustment, a reconstruction of ligaments and tendons often becomes necessary, as these are affected by instability due to the longtime malposition.

Results of the readjustment

Our surveys show that 90 % of the first 500 patients treated with a so-called "supramalleolar readjustment" still show a positive effect ten years after the treatment and are highly satisfied with the result. Only 4 % of the patients needed an ankle prosthesis during this period.
Dr. Boack is by far the most experienced expert internationally on readjustments of the upper ankle joint and is thus highly efficient and secure in the appliance of this treatment.