Ankle Distraction

Scottyc

Hi,

I have read quite a bit online about Ankle Distraction as effective procedure for arthritis in younger patients but most of the posts or stories seem to be from America.

Is this procedure available on the NHS?

[Deleted User]

Welcome to Arthritis Care Forums, Scottyc, from the moderation team.

The helpline team will be online again in the morning and will look at your query then. The procedure you mention has been talked about on the forums, but I can’t remember anyone actually having had it done.

In the meantime you might like to have a read of our factsheet on ankle arthritis?

https://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/what-is-arthritis/resources/1179-osteoarthritis-of-the-ankle

Of course you would be very welcome to join in wherever you like, you will be made very welcome.

I look forward to seeing you posting on the boards.

Best wishes

Ellen

stickywicket

Hi,

I'm just an ordinary forum member not one of the Helpline team. I've never heard of ankle distraction and, to be honest. I thought it was a typo. But I checked it out and found these two articles.

Arthritis Research UK is a very reliable site and the NCBI pubmed stuff can be trusted too.

For me it would sound too experimental but you might feel differently.

http://tinyurl.com/hlv4mfp

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27049199

Scottyc

stickywicket wrote:

Hi,

I'm just an ordinary forum member not one of the Helpline team. I've never heard of ankle distraction and, to be honest. I thought it was a typo. But I checked it out and found these two articles.

Arthritis Research UK is a very reliable site and the NCBI pubmed stuff can be trusted too.

For me it would sound too experimental but you might feel differently.

http://tinyurl.com/hlv4mfp

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27049199

Thanks for this, I'm sure I had possibly read the 1st article. Everything I've read seems to indicate that the success rate is quite high. And to be honest it's more appealing that the alternatives.

I'm 37yrs old and have already had an operation to clear the joint from debris/bone spurs and have told that it would be pointless repeating the procedure. I would completely rule out getting the joint fused and joint replacement doesn't appeal too much either.

helpline_team

Hi Scottyc,

Thank you for posting on the Helplines forum. It’s good that Stickywicket gave you the link to ankle distraction surgery on the Arthritis Research UK website and Ellen directed you to our Arthritis Care factsheet on ankle arthritis.

If you would like to talk things over, you are very welcome to give us a call on our Free Helpline 0808 800 4050 weekdays 10am – 4pm.

Best wishes,

Fiona, Helplines team.