When I asked my doctor about the recovery, he was very non-committal. He said everyone is different, but that I should be in a full cast for three weeks and then in a boot for a few months, with the total recovery taking about a year. He explained that he would be able to give me a better assessment at the post-op appointment on April 17th.
I knew that there are several different types of replacement systems: I am going to call them ankle bionics for the sake of this blog. He matter-of-factly said it was the Vantage Ankle Replacement System, and when an assistant stopped in after my final X-rays, she asked if I would be willing to be a part of the study which simply involved completing a questionnaire at various times until 10 years post-bionics. I agreed without giving it much thought.
When I got home I googled the Vantage System. I was both surprised and delighted to learn that, in fact, my doctor -- Dr. James Nunley -- along with his partner, Dr. Mark Easley -- were the inventors of the Vantage System along with EXAC in Basal, Switzerland. The surgery has only been done since October 2016; making sense of the study, but it also leaves the long-term outlook a little in the dark. But everything I have read suggests that the Vantage bionics mimics the ankle the best of all the current systems in use.
Here is a link to the information in the Vantage Ankle Replacement:
Vantage Total Ankle Replacement System.
Some of my friends are in awe that such bionics even exist, and they ask me how it works. I am not sure, but I here is a X-ray of an ankle that has already been replaced.
I knew that there are several different types of replacement systems: I am going to call them ankle bionics for the sake of this blog. He matter-of-factly said it was the Vantage Ankle Replacement System, and when an assistant stopped in after my final X-rays, she asked if I would be willing to be a part of the study which simply involved completing a questionnaire at various times until 10 years post-bionics. I agreed without giving it much thought.
When I got home I googled the Vantage System. I was both surprised and delighted to learn that, in fact, my doctor -- Dr. James Nunley -- along with his partner, Dr. Mark Easley -- were the inventors of the Vantage System along with EXAC in Basal, Switzerland. The surgery has only been done since October 2016; making sense of the study, but it also leaves the long-term outlook a little in the dark. But everything I have read suggests that the Vantage bionics mimics the ankle the best of all the current systems in use.
Here is a link to the information in the Vantage Ankle Replacement:
Vantage Total Ankle Replacement System.
Some of my friends are in awe that such bionics even exist, and they ask me how it works. I am not sure, but I here is a X-ray of an ankle that has already been replaced.
When I was doing my research I also learned that Dr. Easley is listed as one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the US. I was thrilled when I got my confirmation from Duke Orthopedics that both Nunley and Easley would be performing the surgery. These are the good doctors who are making me bionic!
Dr. James Nunley, foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon (Duke)
Tulane Medical School, 1973
Dr. Mark Easley, foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon (Duke)
University of Virginia School of Medicine, 1992
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