New Ankle Replacement Surgery

Haddad is a pioneer in the field of ankle replacement surgery. "For instance, ankle fusion actually locks the ankle by joining the three bones that make up the joint (the tibia and fibula in the lower leg and the talus in the foot),” said Dr. Haddad. "Over time, this causes stiffness and limited mobility, and adjacent joints may become arthritic.”

In a recent replacement surgery for two ankles, Dr. Haddad approached each injured ankle from the front of the joint, removed the screws and plates that held each ankle together, and embedded a device called the Agility ankle. This linked the three bones of the ankle joint and created a smooth-guiding mechanism that distributes a patient's body weight equally among these bones. Replacement ankles have a longevity of about 15 years, which is similar to hip and knee replacement devices.

"Although I have to minimize repetitive stress on my ankles and I avoid activities like jogging, I'm free to enjoy my interests and active lifestyle once again,” said Barbara Pulfiser, who had the replacement surgery. "Amazingly, my scars are only a few inches long.”




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