Stress distribution in the ankle joint, Ideal requirement for ankle Essay

Stress distribution in the ankle joint, Ideal requirement for ankle arthroplasty - Essay Example However, the dynamic stability to the joint can be attributed to the ligamentous support and balanced muscular forces acting around the joint. Although end-stage degenerative joint disease in uncommon in the ankle joint, in contrast to the previously offered ankle arthrodesis, with the newer designs of total ankle arthroplasty implants, the later has become a viable alternative. However, given the complex mechanism of the joint in terms of force distribution, any successful implant must be congruent with the biomechanical properties of this unique joint. To this end, stress distribution and other mechanical forces are the most important considerations, and in this assignment, some current total ankle replacements systems will be investigated as to whether they conform to the ideal requirements of stress distribution (Alvine, 2000). Studies have supported the clinical choice of total ankle replacement despite its complications since in comparison to arthrodesis, the ideal patients undergoing indicated total ankle replacements can experience a near-normal gait, greater range of movement, symmetrical timing but a slower gait, and restored ground reaction pattern. In actual clinical conditions, thus stress distribution across the implant becomes the most important engineering issue to be considered while choosing an implant. This is important more so, given the fact that there is indeed a higher reported incidence of frequent failure of the ankle implants. These have been ascribed to the designers and surgeons inability to reconstruct and restore the stabilising ligaments, to a poor simulation and reproduction of the normal mechanics of the joint, and due to these reasons, leading to a lack of involvement of the subtalar joint while the entire ankle complex need a coupled pattern of motion. This makes the total jo int replacement challenging, but also indicates that there is space for improvements in implant design