What are the reasons ankle replacements may fail?
Ankle replacements can fail if they get infected or if excessive stress is placed on the joint. In other words, if the bone is weak, osteoporotic, of poor quality, or if the implant does not have optimal fixation, it can crush down into the bone eventually and result in failure. This is especially true in patients that do not have normal sensation in their ankle, such as those individuals with peripheral neuropathy from any cause. Diabetes mellitus is frequently associated with peripheral neuropathy, and, in those individuals, ankle replacement is probably not indicated. If it is performed, the implant has to be watched very carefully and possibly even protected with bracing or restriction of activity.
