Non-Surgical Treatment for Ankle Osteoarthritis
Ankle arthritis often develops years after a significant ankle injury, such as a fracture or a severe sprain, though it can also result from general wear and tear over time. At Palm Beach Regenerative Sport and Spine, Dr. Ghattas offers image-guided orthobiologic treatments for appropriately selected patients with ankle arthritis, with the goal of reducing inflammation and supporting joint function.
Results vary. Not all patients are candidates. Dr. Ghattas will discuss realistic expectations for your specific condition.
What Causes Ankle Arthritis?
Unlike the knee or hip, ankle arthritis is frequently linked to a specific past injury. Prior fractures, severe or repeated ankle sprains, and joint instability can all change the way the ankle bears weight, gradually wearing down the cartilage that cushions the joint. Age-related wear, repetitive stress from activity, and structural misalignment can also contribute.
What Are the Symptoms of Ankle Arthritis?
- Swelling and tenderness around the ankle joint
- Stiffness, especially after periods of rest
- A feeling of instability or the ankle giving way
- Clicking, popping, or grinding sensations with movement
- Difficulty walking, running, or standing for extended periods
How We Approach Ankle Arthritis
Our image-guided orthobiologic treatments for ankle arthritis are designed to reduce inflammation, manage symptoms, and support healthy tissue function in the joint. Many patients experience meaningful improvement in pain and mobility, though results vary based on arthritis severity and individual factors.
Important: these treatments do not regenerate cartilage. For patients with advanced, bone-on-bone ankle arthritis, surgical options such as ankle fusion or ankle replacement may be more appropriate. Dr. Ghattas will review your imaging and discuss realistic expectations for your specific degree of arthritis.
Who May Be a Candidate?
Patients with mild to moderate ankle arthritis, who still have retained joint space on imaging, tend to be the best candidates for orthobiologic treatment. Patients with advanced, bone-on-bone arthritis are often better served by a surgical consultation, and Dr. Ghattas will provide an honest assessment of whether treatment is likely to benefit your specific situation.
What to Expect
- Consultation: Review of your ankle imaging and history, including any prior fractures or sprains, to assess candidacy.
- Treatment: Image-guided injection into the ankle joint under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance.
- Recovery: Most patients resume normal activities within days, with high-impact activity limited for several weeks.
- Follow-up: Structured tracking of your symptoms and function over time.
Like all medical procedures, orthobiologic treatments have potential risks and benefits. Results vary by individual. Not all patients are candidates. Dr. Ghattas will discuss your specific situation, realistic expectations, and all treatment options, including when surgery may be more appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
For patients with mild to moderate arthritis, non-surgical approaches, including orthobiologic injections, may be worth exploring. Advanced, bone-on-bone arthritis is often better addressed with surgery, and Dr. Ghattas will help you understand where you fall on that spectrum.
A sprain is an acute injury to the ligaments of the ankle. Ankle arthritis is a separate, typically longer-term condition involving breakdown of the joint's cartilage, though a serious sprain or fracture earlier in life can increase the risk of developing arthritis later on.
This varies by patient and by the severity of arthritis. Based on Regenexx registry data, many patients with joint arthritis report improvement in pain and function following treatment, though individual results vary and are not guaranteed.
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●PATIENT OUTCOMES
Real Patients. Real Results.
No medical procedure can guarantee an outcome. What you should expect is an honest discussion of the evidence, a careful assessment of candidacy, and a recommendation based on your condition.
"Honestly one of the best experiences, I’ve had a really stiff neck for a couple weeks I tried seeing a chiropractor for and it helped marginally but the real jump in relief was coming to see Dr. Ghattas! He has been incredible, wonderful staff, and minimally invasive technique for my pain relief which was super important to me! Thank you Dr. Ghattas recommending to anyone with pain!"Monica A
"Ghattas was instrumental in helping my torn rotator cuff. I did Barbotage for the stone, and then PRP. Great experience. Been about a month or 2 since and I feel great."Ahmet B
"I had severe knee pain and was looking for proper knee pain treatment, which is how I found Dr. Ghattas on Instagram. I was a bit hesitant at first, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made for my health. Francia was amazing at coordinating all my consultations and making the whole process easy and stress-free. If you’re dealing with knee pain and looking for a reliable doctor and team, I highly recommend them."Roger L
"Over a year ago, both my daughter and I underwent PRP treatment with Dr. Ghattas—PRP for my left knee and PRP for my daughter’s L4-L5 and sacral region. We wanted to wait long enough to truly evaluate the results before sharing our experience. I am pleased to say that the outcomes have been outstanding. My daughter’s improvement has been remarkable, and the treatment has made a significant difference in her quality of life. I have also experienced excellent results with my knee. Dr. Ghattas is an exceptional physician who combines expertise, professionalism, and genuine care for his patients. We are incredibly grateful for the treatment we received and the positive impact it has had on our lives. Thank you, Dr. Ghattas. We are truly grateful for everything you have done. You are simply the best."Dr Jorge A
"Dr. Ghattas is very knowledgable and a sympathetic doctor. Hard to find in America. All questions answered, my procedure went very smoothly, very little pain. Follow up is excellent, I highly recommend his practice."Luciana D
“ I had severe knee pain and was looking for proper knee pain treatment, which is how I found Dr. Ghattas on Instagram. I was a bit hesitant at first, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made for my health. Francia was amazing at coordinating all my consultations and making the whole process easy and stress-free. If you’re dealing with knee pain and looking for a reliable doctor and team, I highly recommend them. ”Roger L
“Dr. Ghattas was terrific today. He spent a good amount of time examining me and explaining the regenerative process which I intend to have done next month. More to come after the procedure.”Louie R
“I found Dr Ghattas and his staff very welcoming and informative. The process was well explained and gave me encouragement about the potential for fully restoring my knee joint integrity.”Eric C
“I received two treatments from Dr. Ghattas With excellent results, he takes great care in his assessment and in his treatment you couldn’t be in better hands. I highly recommend his work.”Gisela S
“Apart from the exemplary personal service by the reception and the staff that makes us feel we're at home at the clinic, I have experienced remarkable healing in several episodes from shoulder issue to knee injuries and hip pain. The doctor is so thorough in the diagnosis phase that he administered exactly what was needed, no more no less! Thank you folks for a wonderful experience.”RG G
“Went to Dr. Ghattas for chronic knee and neck issue. I’ve already had multiple procedures done on my neck and multiple epidurals with minimal success. My knee I was told needed surgery to fix. I already had surgery in the past with minimal difference. I ended up getting stem cells in my knee and neck and could t be happier with the outcome. Anyone considering surgery I recommend checking out Regenex first. Next I’m doing the ganglion block and look forward to the results.”Logan H
“Dr. James Ghattas and his team are truly top-notch. His office is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and a staff that's exceptional in their fields. I've referred several clients to him, and they've all been incredibly satisfied. Dr. Ghattas is absolutely ahead of the curve, and I wholeheartedly endorse his work.”Ron H
“I am quite active and go to pilates 3-4 times per week. I was having left knee pain and which was treated with PRP. It took about 3 months for me to feel better but then the pain completely subsided. I now am able to exercise without the fear that I will tear a ligament and am pain free.”Ellipsis P
“Transparency, thoroughness, attention to detail, immediate, high quality, follow ups and follow through are just a few words that come to mind throughout my experiences with Palm Beach Regenerative Sport and Spine.”Milton L
