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John scales new heights following surgery at the London Foot and Ankle Centre.

John Way’s major ankle surgery was so successful that just 15 months after his operation, he was able to climb Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro.

Mr Way had undergone ankle fusion surgery in his left foot five years ago carried out by orthopaedic surgeon John Angel of the London Foot and Ankle Centre.

Further surgery by Mr Angle became necessary when Mr Way developed pain caused by arthritis developing in his adjacent joints.

Ankle fusion is a surgical procedure which reduces the pain associated with ankle arthritis by getting the bones around the ankle to join together.

The surgery requires the removal of the joint cartilage, proper positioning of the ankle and foot, and placement of screws, plates, rods, or pins to hold the position while the bone knits together into a solid painless structure.
Mr Way’s second operation was a triple arthrodesis, involving the fusion of the subtalar, talonavicular and calcaneocuboid joints.

Mr Angel explained: “Mr Way’s surgery demonstrates what can be achieved with appropriate and successful fusion surgery. The key thing is to ensure that the foot must lie flat on the ground when the body is in the natural standing position.
“Mr Way effectively has one bone running down from his knee to the middle section of his foot and was able to reach a level of function enabling him to complete this major climb.
“Patients are often more comfortable and more mobile with painless fused joints than mobile painful ones.”

Surgeons at the London Foot and Ankle Centre have extensive experience of both ankle fusion surgery and ankle replacements and will judge which approach is most appropriate for each individual patient.