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
