Ankle Replacement

[bilby]

Hi Kira. Considering I had a lot of other work done I must say that the ankle is holding up well. I'm not as active as you but it was worthwhile having the replacement.
Glad you still travelling well, enjoy your bike ride!

[fredda]

The surgery performed by Dr. Hintermann still costs around 30.000 swiss franc.

I had mine done there a week ago but the public healthcare here in sweden picked up the tab since Switzerland is an EES-country and by being that they have some agreements with the EU-states and healthcare is a part of that deal.

[Sandon]

Hi all, thank you for all the fantastic information everyone has shared, especially KiraB even though it's post 5 years, would still like to hear how things are going!
My question is, does anyone know any surgeons in Brisbane or Gold Coast doing TAR n if there is anyone who has had it done up here, (or Sydney / Melbourne) how did u go n would love to hear your experience n out of pocket expenses so I can start budgeting ( I'm with Bupa Health Insurance)
Thanks Sandy

[bilby]

Sandy, Surgeons are someone you will have to research and ask a lot of questions about. I had my TAR done in Sydney.
The surgeon will give you a quote and advise how much you get back from both Medicare and the health fund.
You also have to budget for a boot and crutches and 1 or 2 plaster casts.
Also ask you health fund if they have surgeons who work with them.

[Sandon]

Thanks Bilby, your comments much appreciated. I was starting to think this forum was over. I have been researching surgeons on the net but can't get much info except for what they put on their own sites, which isn't much!! It is a case of having to find ppl who have had a TAR and ask. This is the first forum I have found that I can ask questions related to my injury.
Can I ask who was your surgeon n what brand of replacement did you get ??
Did your surgeon give u a choice of brand or does he work with only one brand??
What time frame did u have to wait to be operated on?? How long where u in hospital?? and approx. recovery time to walking with minimal pain?? And how is it now??
Did u have any complications? & if so was it fixed??
I have been reading KiraB's experience n she was weight bearing almost immediately & yet others taking weeks before they weight bear, what was yr experience??
My ankle is bone on bone, no cartilage left, two arthroscopies, n arthritis now, been going on approx. 8 years n starting to get worse, each step painful. Sorry for all the questions but u r the only kind person who has responded so far. I have an appointment for initial referral in November with a surgeon on the Gold Coast but was thinking of making a few more appointments with interstate surgeons to get a range of opinions n take it from there. I really hope u reply as I am really interested to know the answers to my questions. Thanks heaps

[bilby]

Hi Sandy.

My TAR was done by Dr Alistair Newman from Othhapedic Associates at Castle Hill. He uses the Hintegra system.
My ankle was severly damaged by a number of breaks to both the ankle and Tibia / Fibula over the past 40 years.
The final decision was because of severe arthritic pain in the ankle. As well as the TAR I had a number of joints fused.

Everyone's condition and prognosis is different so I suggest you contact Dr Newman and talk to him about an appointment or arrange to send him your x-rays although I think he will want to see you in person. Your GP can give you a referral.

The time taken to do the work is dependant on whether you are privately insured or not. With private insurance you could probably get it done within 2 weeks. I presume that if you have an appointment in November you are not privately insured so I can't comment on the time it will take for you to get an operation

you will be in hospital for 2 or 3 days and come out and be in a cast for 6 weeks.
After that it will be starting to walk with a boot for 4 weeks.
All of this will be dependent on your personal circumstances.

You will be free of pain from your arthritis immediately. There will be pain from the operation for a week or two then the long slog till your out of plaster. Again, the surgeons will advise you.

Let me know if you need more info.

[Sandon]

Thank you Bilby so much for replying, very much appreciated!! Yes I am privately insured with MBF top hospital cover n I have found out that they will cover most of the operation dependent on what the Dr charges there may be some extra but it will be worth it to have no pain. Don't know why I have to wait so long for initial appointment with specialist, I already have my referral. The Hintegra seems to be the most common one used by a lot of surgeons now by what I have read.
Did you have any complications at all ??
How long ago was your operation?
How are you going now?? do u still suffer any pain or difficulties??
Your ankle definitely sounds like it was more complicated than mine so hopefully I will b able to walk and do other things painfree. I am so looking forward to doing so much more with my children, the arthritic pain I have has stopped me from doing so much!
Hope you don't mind but can I ask your age?? (not that it matters, just wandering) I will contact Dr Newman n see if I can send my xrays first for him to look at before flying down to Sydney to see him. I do have family there so I hopefully will get a new ankle n see my family as well, double bonus!! I will post any progress, look forward to hearing from you...

[Sandon]

hi again Bilby just went back over some of your older posts and they answered two of my questions I asked, when u were operated on n yr age!! Sorry bout that!!

[bilby]

Sandy, Yes I did have alot of work done so I'm probably not a good case study. I have seen videos on line of people who are walking after 3 weeks.

You should be able to see Dr Newman within a couple of weeks.
Let me know if you want to talk.
Cheers

Bill