Retired Marine one of first to receive total ankle replacement

The adventure of the open road continues to call to 77-year-old Dwayne Stephens, who is reaping the benefits of state-of-the-art orthopedic surgery performed at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.

Stephens and his wife of 57 years, Belle, are back on their motorcycle and preparing for a busy summer, thanks to the surgical skill of Gregory Caronis, M.D., who performed Stephens' total ankle arthroplasty.

Stephens' TAA has allowed the active senior citizen to continue to pursue one of his passions: motorcycling.

"I had been unable to walk without serious pain in my left ankle for about three years," Stephens said.

A retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant, Stephens served in Vietnam and suffers numerous health problems subsequent to his exposure to Agent Orange. In addition, arthritis has been a major issue, and he has undergone total left shoulder, knee and ankle replacements. In the summer of 2014, according to Stephens, his regular orthopaedist said that he knew "a young man who does wonders with ankles."

Stephens made an appointment to see Dr. Caronis, vice chair of surgery at Advocate Condell Medical Center. Caronis, a partner of Greenleaf Orthopedic Associates, is fellowship-trained in foot and ankle surgery.

"Advances in foot and ankle surgery have provided the surgeon with several options for addressing the chronic, often disabling, pain of arthritis," Caronis said.

Stephens recalls that he and Caronis discussed the various alternatives for alleviating his pain ranging from cortisone injections and bracing to a fusion to the total ankle replacement.

"TAA is not for everyone," Caronis explained. "I have been doing the arthrodesis or fusion surgery for many years. The success rate is high, and patients typically are willing to trade a slight decrease in range of motion for elimination of arthritic pain."

"But not this Marine," declared Stephens. "As I was no longer in the workforce, no more 'forced marches,' no longer chasing my children or grandchildren on uneven lawns and simply being a guy who loves to ride motorcycles, I thought the TAA was my way to go," Stephens said.

Caronis explained that Stephens was a perfect fit for the type of patient who will likely find benefit in a replacement rather than an ankle fusion.

"You're looking for the patient with a certain type of foot structure and arthritis pattern, as well as someone who wants to remain active without doing a lot of what I call pounding activities - running or jumping," Caronis said.

For Stephens, it was essential that he have the flexibility in his ankle to operate the gear shift on his motorcycle.

In October 2014, Stephens' ankle was replaced at Advocate Condell Hospital with a Star Ankle Prosthesis. Caronis became the first surgeon to perform the TAA at Condell, and Stephens recovered very well.

"We explained all the risks and benefits of surgery," Caronis said, "but it's patient compliance that really ensures a full recovery."

"I was told that I was to put no weight on the foot," Stephens said. "Dr. Caronis would see me every week for a time, then two weeks. I was careful to brief him on my activities and he watched my X-rays carefully," he added.

"Although total ankle replacement is not as common as total hip or total knee replacement, advances in implant design have made it a viable option for many people," Caronis said.

"Moving the formerly arthritic joint means that less stress is transferred to the adjacent joints, and this lessens the chance of developing adjacent joint arthritis."

Stephens, who is currently serving as president of a Christian Motorcyclists Association chapter locally, is thrilled about where he is in the recovery process. In this leadership capacity, he and his wife have plans for travel on their motorcycle this summer.

"Today, six months after surgery, I have no pain," Stephens said. "I walk on our treadmill and with my wife, wherever she directs."

Caronis, who in addition to his specialty in foot and ankle surgery covers a significant portion of Condell's orthopedic trauma cases and continues to practice general orthopedics, sounds pleased when he talks about Stephens' case.

"This is a very satisfying surgery to perform, as the ultimate improvement in quality of life for the patient is significant," he said. "I'm happy that I'm able to offer Condell patients TAA as an option for their care."

As Stephens looks forward to the open road this summer, he reflects that he is "truly amazed at the work of scientists to produce such a product as this, but am even more amazed that a man, Dr. Caronis, can so carefully cut, saw and drill so that I can walk again without pain."

Stephens added, "I am so thankful that God put him in my life to do what he has done."

Caronis is a partner with Greenleaf Orthopedic Associates, the oldest area orthopedic practice, serving Lake County for more than 50 years.

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