Sports Enthusiast Finds New Hope with Agility Total Ankle System

Bill, 58, recently retired from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an Air Traffic Control Specialist. He admits to being an avid sports enthusiast. "I've been very athletic my whole life, and after turning 40, I concentrated on running, racquetball and skiing," Bill says.

Unfortunately, Bill's favorite activities were difficult to enjoy with sore ankles, which became increasingly problematic in the early 90s. After completing a 10K race in Dallas in 1992, Bill sought help for the first time, and learned that the pain in his ankles was due to deteriorating cartilage, a precursor to osteoarthritis. As the pain worsened over the years, Bill reluctantly began giving up his favorite sports. "I stopped running and had to give up racquetball in the mid 90s, things I thoroughly enjoyed," Bill says.

In 1998, an orthopaedist recommended ankle fusion, but Bill decided to postpone any decisions about surgery. "My father had an ankle fusion, but it didn't turn out well for him in his later years," Bill explains.

Bill's pain gradually began impacting more and more aspects of his life. "I walked very gingerly, and I limped on both sides," Bill says. In his work for the FAA, Bill regularly had to climb several flights of stairs to reach the top of Air Traffic Control towers - a task that became increasingly difficult for him.

The turning point for Bill came when his sister was visiting him at his home in the Washington D.C. area in 2005. "We decided to visit the World War II Memorial, and ended up having to park our car pretty far away," Bill says. "At one point, we had to cross a busy intersection, and I was moving so slowly that my brother-in-law had to stop traffic so that I could get to the other side. At that point, my sister told me it was time for me to do something about my ankles, and I decided she was right."

A few months later, Bill underwent surgery to have his right ankle replaced with the Agility^TM Total Ankle System from DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. "I had heard about the Agility Ankle from my doctor about two years before the actual surgery, but I was concerned about the length of the recovery time," Bill says.

Fortunately, Bill's recovery went smoothly and he found himself able to put weight on his ankle sooner than he anticipated. After a period of six weeks, Bill's cast was removed and replaced with a "walking boot." He also began working with a physical therapist to stretch and exercise his new ankle. "I know I was on the short end of the recovery period, probably on the anticipation of getting my left ankle done," Bill says.

Eight months after his first surgery, Bill's left ankle was also replaced with the Agility Ankle, and today, Bill says he's completely satisfied. "I can walk normally, and I don't have a limp anymore," Bill says.

Bill is hoping to return to some of his favorite athletic activities soon, under his doctor's direction. In the meantime, he has become involved in some new athletic activities. These days, he rides a bike about 20 miles several times a week and has also taken up swimming.

Bill says his outlook on life has greatly improved with his new ankles. "Losing my mobility was one of the hardest things I've ever faced," Bill explains. "I don't even want to think about what is was like when I was in pain and very limited in what I could do."

The performance of ankle replacement depends on age, weight, activity level and other factors. There are potential risks and recovery takes time. People with conditions limiting rehabilitation should not have this surgery. Only an orthopaedic surgeon can tell if ankle replacement is right for you.

Last Updated: 10/23/2007