Why are total ankle replacements (TAR) performed less often than some of the other types of procedures for ankle arthritis?
Previous designs of total ankle replacements have not provided consistently good long term results. However, new implant designs are currently available, and their early results are encouraging. Despite these encouraging results, most orthopedic surgeons are not yet ready to recommend TAR in all of their patients with ankle arthritis until longer term studies are completed. In addition, compared to the number of orthopedic surgeons who are performing total hip and knee surgeries, there are a smaller number of qualified orthopedic surgeons with the training and experience to perform a TAR. Lastly, despite encouraging results with total ankle replacement over the past 5-10 years and coverage by Medicare, many private insurance companies continue to deny coverage for the procedure by claiming that it is an experimental surgery. This further limits the number of patients that have TAR as an option.
