Walking is as natural for us as breathing. But what if you've had an ankle injury that knocked you off your feet for years and just taking a few steps caused excruciating pain?

In the past, fusion was the best option, but that can limit motion.

In part two of this Special Medical Moment, Maureen takes you inside the operating room where a new surgery is putting people in Michiana back on their feet.

But a warning: we are going into surgery, so some of you may find the video accompanying this story disturbing.

Eight years ago, 53-year-old Virginia Zimmerman of Niles broke her ankle. A plate and screws were put in, but she's always had a lot of pain.

"I used to like to play tennis," says Viriginia. "Now I have to sit on the sideline and watch."

No longer willing to sit on the sidelines, Virginia is undergoing Total Ankle replacement surgery with Dr. Jeff Niespodziany.

"It's been the most advantageous to ankle joint replacement and so pretty new," says Dr. Niespodziany.

It's called the INBONE Total Ankle System.

"It's going to replace the joint just like a knee or hip replacement," says Dr. Niespodziany. "You're going to have a polyethylene base rubbing against cobalt chrome, so we replace that bone so that's there's not the bone against bone sensitivity."

A large part of the surgery is prep, and Dr. niespodziany and his team spend a couple hours making sure they have the precise spot the implant needs to be.

He's already taken out the screws from Virginia's previous surgery, made another incision to open the front of Virginia's ankle to remove the existing bone and marked the spot where he will go in from the heel.

The key to the surgery is a vice-like device that locks Virginia's foot in place.

"This is the guide system that really kind of makes this surgery," says Dr. Niespodziany.

A lengthy process but worth it.

"These guide rods are going to determine exactly where we put the ankle joint implant in," says Niespodziany. "The whole set-up is a big deal. Once we have it all set up, it's just a matter of putting the implant in."

And since the implant is customized for each patient, Dr. Niespodziany works with reps from the company that makes the implant to make sure they pick the right size and location.

Nearly three hours after surgery begins, the first piece of the implant is going into Virginia's shinbone.

"So you're opening it up and then the implant will go in?" asks Maureen.

"Yeah, so this reams it up so we don't have to force it in," says Dr. Niespodziany.

After stacking the components that will form the stem, Dr. Niespodziany gives us a closer look.

"This is actually the implant we're going to be putting in now, and that will attach to all the components that we have put up already," he explains.

A little tapping and a check of the x-rays, and the implant is in place.

The next step is putting in the polyethylene implant that simulates a joint between the shinbone and the foot bone to help ankle function properly.

He gives Virginia's ankle a test.

"I'm going to glide the ankle up and down, you can see, and she's got nice, full range of motion," says Dr. Niespodziany. "So her foot moves very easily."

"So you can still rotate medial and lateral…you can still turn in your foot, invert and evert," he says.

Happy with the results, Virginia's surgery is over.

Dr. Niespodziany is confident about Virginia's range of motion, but what about playing tennis again?

"It depends on how you play tennis," says Dr. Niespodziany. "She won't be world-class, but she'll certainly be able to go out and hit a tennis ball back and forth."

And two weeks to the day we checked in on Virginia, at home and feeling good.

"I'm going to be able to move my ankle," she says. "I'm going to be able to do everything I did before."

She'll be in a cast six weeks and need physical therapy, and world-class or not, she has a goal.

"My goal is to start playing tennis again," says Virginia.

Virginia went home the day after surgery and said she had very little pain. She says the hardest part for her is her husband making her sit down.

If you'd like to see Part One of Virginia' s surgery, click on this link.

If you'd like more information about the INBONE Total Ankle System, click here or contact Dr. Jeff Niespodziany at:

Unity Medical and Surgical Hospital
4455 Edison Lakes Parkway, Mishawaka, IN
574) 259-9668