Ankle replacement surgery is performed for replacement of a damaged ankle joint with an artificial implant. The ankle joint called as tibiotalar joint is where your shinbone (tibia) rests on top of a bone of your foot, the talus. Arthritis can affect this joint as well as other joints in the foot. The smooth cartilage on the surface of the bones wears away overtime causing pain, inflammation, and swelling of the joint. Ankle replacement surgery is a procedure to replace this damaged joint to reduce and eliminate this pain and swelling. Usually, the surgery is carried out under general anesthesia. The surgeon will make an incision in the ankle to access the affected joint. Then, he will remove the damaged parts of your tibia and talus bones and will attach artificial metal joints to the remaining bone surfaces, with a piece of plastic inserted between them.