What is ankle arthritis?

Most ankle arthritis is caused by osteoarthritis (OA) however there are also other forms of arthritis that can affect the ankle joint such as rheumatoid arthritis.

In a normal ankle, smooth cartilage lines the ends of the bones which form the ankle joint (the tibia and the talus bones). In OA of the ankle, this cartilage wears away causing friction between the bony surfaces and pain when weight bearing. Pain can also be caused by fragments of cartilage becoming detached in the joint. Continue reading →