What are the latest advancements in foot and ankle treatment, particularly concerning non-invasive techniques?

The latest advancements in foot and ankle treatment are developments that have occurred in the treatment of ankle arthritis and the role of total ankle replacement. Not many patients and not many doctors outside of orthopaedic surgeons are very aware of the improved results and success with total ankle replacement. Ankle arthritis has traditionally been treated with ankle fusion where the ankle bones are fused together - this relieves pain but at the expense of movement. Total ankle replacement can relieve pain but preserve movement and this provides a superior outcome for patients in terms of pain relief and function. This has become possible because of the development of CT based pre-operative planning and patient specific 3D printed jigs. We do more total ankle replacements at Macquarie University Hospital than most other facilities in Australia.