St Stephen’s Hospital in Hervey Bay has marked another exciting milestone after the first total ankle replacement surgeries were performed at the hospital, and in the Wide Bay region, in July.
The expansion of the hospital’s orthopaedic surgery program to include ankle replacement surgery is good news for local residents, providing an additional treatment option for debilitating ankle pain closer to home.
St Stephen’s Hospital orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Navi Bali, said like hips and knees, total ankle replacement procedures are becoming more common thanks to advances in technology and surgical techniques.
“Ankle technology and reliability of the prosthesis has improved significantly in the past ten years, as have orthopaedic surgical techniques, so we’re now seeing ankle replacement procedures becoming more common,” Dr Bali said.
“This includes using unique 3D models created in the United States for each patient as well as x-ray during the procedure to guide placement of the new ankle joint which is critical for patient outcomes and for the longevity of the implant.
“We’re really excited to be able to make this treatment option available here in Hervey Bay at St Stephen’s to give patients greater choice about their treatment options and reduce the need to travel for treatment,” he said.
For patients, the surgery means having access to an additional treatment option for ankle pain and stiffness, often caused by a past break or arthritis, when other techniques have been unsuccessful.
“Patients will often come to see me with ankle pain which is impacting their quality of life and reducing their ability to walk long distances. They might also be experiencing significant pain at rest,” Dr Bali explained.
“The aim of treatment for ankle arthritis is to reduce pain and improve function. There are a few options that we can use to try to achieve this, including injections or use of an ankle brace initially.
“If these options don’t provide relief, that’s when we may look at surgical options such as a total ankle replacement or an ankle fusion.
“As with everything in medicine, treatment is tailored to the individual patient and it’s not a ‘one size fits all’ approach. It’s great to be able to have this procedure in our tool kit to offer to patients when it can really benefit them,” he said.
St Stephen’s Hospital General Manager, Peter Wood, said it was pleasing to see patients already benefiting from the new procedure.
“This is another great milestone for St Stephen’s and more importantly for our community and those we care for,” Peter said.
“Our focus is firmly on making great care available close to home for our community, and the introduction of total ankle replacement procedures is an example of how we are continually expanding our services to meet the evolving needs of patients.”
For more information, patients are encouraged to speak to their GP about a referral to St Stephen’s Hospital.