Fax: (239) 692-9436
Tel: 239-430-3668Total ankle replacement (TAR) is one of the most advanced surgical procedures in foot and ankle surgery — and one of the most life-changing for patients managing severe ankle arthritis. At Family Foot and Leg Center, our ABFAS double board-certified surgeons perform total ankle replacement across Southwest Florida, offering patients a motion-preserving alternative to ankle fusion that restores function and allows a return to active living.
What Is Total Ankle Replacement?
Total ankle replacement, also called total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), replaces the damaged bone and cartilage surfaces of the ankle joint with artificial components that replicate the natural motion of a healthy ankle. Unlike ankle fusion (arthrodesis), which locks the ankle permanently, total ankle replacement preserves the joint’s range of motion. Patients can walk, climb stairs, and in many cases return to low-impact recreational activities without the gait compensation and adjacent joint stress that ankle fusion produces over time.
Who Is a Candidate?
Total ankle replacement is indicated for end-stage ankle arthritis caused by post-traumatic arthritis, primary osteoarthritis, or inflammatory arthritis. Good candidates are typically older than 50, maintain healthy or near-healthy body weight, have relatively normal ankle alignment, and adequate bone quality for implant fixation. Our surgeons evaluate each patient using weight-bearing X-rays and CT scanning to determine the optimal plan.
Total Ankle Replacement vs Ankle Fusion
Ankle fusion reliably eliminates pain but at a cost: patients walk with a compensatory gait that increases stress on adjacent joints, frequently leading to subtalar and midfoot arthritis requiring further surgery over 10 to 15 years. Modern total ankle implants demonstrate 10-year survival rates of 85 to 90 percent in appropriately selected patients, with continued improvement in outcomes as surgical technique advances. For active SWFL patients whose lifestyle depends on walking, golf, or pickleball, TAR offers a quality-of-life advantage fusion cannot match.
FFLC’s TAR Credentials
FFLC surgeons are ABFAS double board-certified in Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery — the specific certification validating competence in complex ankle procedures including total ankle replacement. FFLC is an internationally accredited fellowship training center. Medicare and most insurance plans cover total ankle replacement when medically indicated. Book your consultation today at any of our nine Southwest Florida locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is total ankle replacement and how is it different from ankle fusion?
Total ankle replacement (TAR) replaces the ankle joint’s damaged surfaces with artificial components that preserve natural motion. Ankle fusion permanently locks the ankle to eliminate pain but creates a compensatory gait that stresses adjacent joints. TAR preserves motion and reduces long-term adjacent joint complications. Modern TAR implants have 10-year survival rates of 85 to 90 percent in appropriate candidates.
Am I a candidate for total ankle replacement?
Good candidates for total ankle replacement include patients over 50 with end-stage ankle arthritis from post-traumatic, primary osteoarthritis, or inflammatory causes, who have failed conservative management including injections and bracing, have relatively normal ankle alignment, and adequate bone quality. FFLC surgeons evaluate candidacy with weight-bearing X-rays and CT scanning at your consultation.
How long does recovery from total ankle replacement take?
Recovery from total ankle replacement follows a structured progression. Patients are non-weight-bearing for the first two weeks, then begin protected partial weight bearing in a boot from weeks two to six. Full weight bearing and physical therapy typically begin around six to eight weeks. Return to walking and low-impact activity usually occurs between three and six months, with continued improvement for 12 to 24 months.
Is total ankle replacement covered by Medicare?
Yes. Total ankle replacement is covered by Medicare and most major commercial insurance plans when medically indicated for end-stage ankle arthritis. FFLC verifies your specific benefits and obtains pre-authorization before surgery. Consultation at any of our nine Southwest Florida locations is the first step.
Which FFLC surgeons perform total ankle replacement in Southwest Florida?
FFLC’s ABFAS double board-certified surgeons hold the Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery certification that specifically validates competence in total ankle replacement. As an internationally accredited fellowship training center, FFLC surgeons operate at a level of case complexity that most podiatric practices in Southwest Florida do not reach. Consultations are available at all nine SWFL locations.
