Post-Traumatic Arthritis

The term "arthritis" refers to inflammation of a joint.  There are a number of causes of this inflammation, but most commonly it is due to a degeneration of cartilage within the joint, known as osteoarthritis.  The diagnosis of post-traumatic arthritis is used when there is a history of acute trauma or damage to the joint.  The injury may have occurred during sports, a fall, a motor vehicle accident, or any other source of trauma.  In the foot and ankle, this is a common cause of chronic pain.

Post-traumatic arthritis of the ankle joint is extremely common following a bad sprain or fracture of the bones of the joint.  In fact, most studies indicate that upwards of 50% of ankle arthritis is due to a history of injury, and is not a primary arthritic condition.  Any joint of the foot or ankle may be affected if there is a history of injury.  The symptoms include pain and swelling in a joint, fluid accumulation within the joint, and difficulty with activities such as sports, exercise, walking up stairs, and other activities that put added stress on the affected joint. 

Following an injury to the foot or ankle, the joints may become misaligned through faulty healing, or may have damage to the cartilage from the injury itself.  This misalignment of a joint can cause major pain and disability, which will worsen over time. 

A diagnosis of post-traumatic arthritis is often made clinically.  There is generally a history of trauma to the joint, whether it is remembered or not.  Often the trauma can be subtle, such as repetitive ankle sprains.  X-rays may be used by the treating physician to confirm the diagnosis, and to evaluate the symptomatic area. 

Treatment of post-traumatic arthritis often focuses on removing the symptoms of pain and preventing further deformity.  Orthotics and other forms of bracing are often helpful for foot and ankle post-traumatic arthritis.  Icing, rest, and the use of oral anti-inflammatory medications may be helpful as well.  Injections into the joint with corticosteroids may also provide some relief.

Occasionally surgery may be warranted in severe cases.  Depending on which joint of the foot or ankle is affected, various procedures may be beneficial to the patient.  This may include procedures such as fusing joints so that they no longer move, rearranging tendons and ligaments to provide more support to the joint, and possibly cutting bones and moving them to realign the joint. 

Central Florida Foot and Ankle Center 
101 6th St Nw 
 Winter Haven, Fl 33881 
Phone: (863) 299-4551 
www.FLFootandAnkle.com