ABSTRACT
The foot and ankle consist of a complex arrangement of joints and soft-tissue units that work together to allow efficient bipedal ambulation. The ankle and subtalar joint complex work in tandem, forming a functional unit that dissipates axial, bending and torsional forces encountered during weight bearing. The ankle joint can be simplified into a uniplanar hinge joint with motion occurring about a transverse axis joining the tips of the malleoli. Symptomatic osteoarthritis of the ankle is nine times less prevalent than that of the hip and knee. The tendo Achilles is the largest and strongest tendon in the body and is formed by the conjoined tendons of gastrocnemius and soleus. Motion of the surfaces of the intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints is restricted by the shapes of the bones, the many restrictive ligaments, and surrounding muscles. Current research supports Total ankle replacement (TAR) as a viable option for patients with ankle osteoarthritis, with the ideal patient being low-demand.
