Health Matters: Ankle replacement through the years



"Ankle replacements have actually been around for quite some time but the first generations of the implants were rudimentary and didn't work very well," says Dr. George Markovich, orthopedic surgeon on Lee Memorial Health System's medical staff.




"Once you get that alignment locked in you follow certain steps in order to create the reconstructive joint. You don't have a lot of room to work, so you actually create the implant within the joint. So you're not creating undue tension on the surroundings soft tissues which can lead to wound problems," says Dr. Markovich.


"Also, the thing with fusions is that it takes a long time to heal because it's just a different process. The replacements are quicker in terms of relieving pain and certainly achieving better function," says Dr. Markovich.


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