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The ankle joint is affected by arthritis much less often than other joints. When patients have ankle arthritis, they have worn out the joint between the shin bone (tibia) and ankle bone (talus), also called the tibiotalar joint.
What causes ankle arthritis?
Common factors that lead to ankle arthritis include:
- Previous ankle injury
Ankle arthritis is most commonly the result of a prior injury to the ankle joint. In patients who sustain an injury such as an ankle fracture, the cartilage may be damaged and lead to accelerated arthritis.
When the ankle is injured, it is also susceptible to an injury called osteonecrosis. When osteonecrosis occurs as the result of an ankle injury, a portion of the bone has damage to its blood flow. Osteonecrosis can also lead to ankle arthritis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Patients with rheumatoid disease can have ankle arthritis. Rheumatoid disease causes joint inflammation and damage to the cartilage. Over time, this can lead to significant problems, necessitating treatment.
- Infection
Infections of a joint can lead to damage of the cartilage cells. Because cartilage cells cannot regrow, the damage from an infection can last permanently.
- Genetics
The effect of genetics on the development of arthritis is not well understood, but we do know that some people have a genetic tendency to wear out joints faster than others.
- Body weight
Patients who are overweight place a larger burden on their hips, knees, ankles, and feet. These patients have more of a tendency to develop arthritis, and often have more accelerated damage to the joint cartilage.
What are the symptoms of ankle arthritis?
Ankle arthritis most commonly causes pain around the joint, and the most frequent reason for patients to seek treatment is the pain associated with this condition. Other common symptoms of ankle arthritis include:
- Stiffness of the ankle
- Swelling around the joint
- Bone spurs causing a lumpy appearing joint
- Deformity of the joint
- Instability, or a feeling the joint may "give out"
Less commonly, ankle arthritis can lead to irritation of the nerves around the joint causing tingling and numbness in the feet and toes.
How is the diagnosis of ankle arthritis made?
Ankle arthritis can usually be easily diagnosed with an examination and X-ray. Once patients are diagnosed with ankle arthritis, nonoperative treatments should be attempted. Most patients can find relief through steps including activity modification and changes in their footwear.
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