What Causes It
Most ankle arthritis is post-traumatic - the result of a prior fracture, severe sprain, or instability that wore the joint cartilage down over years. Inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid, gout) and primary osteoarthritis also occur but are less common at the ankle than at the hip or knee.
What It Feels Like
Deep, aching pain at the front of the ankle, stiffness in the morning and after rest, and a sense that the ankle “doesn’t bend right” anymore. Patients often describe difficulty on stairs, slopes, and uneven ground.
Conservative Care
Many patients live well with ankle arthritis for years using activity modification, supportive footwear, custom orthotics or ankle bracing, anti-inflammatory medication, and well-timed corticosteroid injections.
When Surgery Helps
When pain limits daily function despite optimal conservative care, options include arthroscopic debridement for impingement, distraction or osteotomy procedures for early disease, and ankle fusion (arthrodesis) or - in selected patients - total ankle replacement for end-stage arthritis. Dr. O’Carroll matches the procedure to your anatomy, alignment, and lifestyle goals.