Clinic Visit

During your clinic visit, you will be evaluated by your surgeon, who will review all of your records and existing x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), and computed tomography (CT) scans.

Even if you have existing x-rays, your visit will include new digital standing x-rays taken at Duke.

Once you and your surgeon have decided that you are a good candidate for total ankle replacement, we will arrange a surgery date and another preoperative visit to make sure you are healthy enough to have surgery.

Because there is a waiting list for surgery, we ask that if you need to cancel, you do so immediately -- as a courtesy to fellow patients -- and not later than two weeks before surgery.

While you are in the clinic, we will ask you to sign a consent form for your surgery and answer any questions that you may have regarding the surgery and your recovery. Additionally, you will meet with a financial care counselor who will contact your insurance company to pre-authorize your surgery.

We may ask you to participate in a study about total ankle replacement, which involves answering questions and having additional testing completed. There is no additional cost to you. Your participation is optional and does not change your care in any way.

Pre-admission Evaluation

During your visit to the preoperative screening clinic, you will be evaluated to make sure you are healthy enough for surgery. Depending on your age and health, your visit may include blood work, EKG, chest x-ray, or other tests.

If there are any concerns, your surgeon will be notified.

You will be given instructions as to where and when your surgery will take place. You will be exempt from pre-surgery blood donation, as there will be no need for blood transfusion during ankle replacement surgery.

You will be instructed as to what medication to take before surgery and the
medications you should take on the morning of surgery. Normally, this includes all of your medications -- except blood thinners like Coumadin or Plavix -- with a sip of water.

Night Before Surgery

Eat light meals to reduce postoperative constipation.

You should not have anything to eat or drink after midnight and nothing to eat or drink on the morning of surgery. The exception will be the medications you have been instructed to take with a sip of water.

Take a shower the night before surgery and the morning of surgery using the special anti-bacterial soap that will be provided to you.