Ankle Osteoarthritis

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis accounts for 70–80% of all ankle osteoarthritis cases. If fracture reduction is incomplete or joint instability remains due to ligament laxity, the friction points become uneven, leading to localized cartilage damage. During this process, a vicious cycle is formed: synovial inflammation → degeneration of joint fluid → reduced nutrient supply to cartilage. From a Korean medicine perspective, post-traumatic ankle problems are viewed as a prolonged condition where pain arises from blocked Qi and blood circulation. If blood bleeds or stagnates outside the meridians at the time of trauma and is not properly dissipated afterward, the stagnant blood blocks local Qi and blood circulation within the joint, becoming the cause of chronic pain and edema. Over time, weakening of the spleen and stomach energy exacerbates muscle weakness around the ankle; when compounded by a deficiency in kidney energy, bone tissue degeneration accelerates. At Dongjedang, we resolve blood-stasis-related adhesions using ultrasound-guided needle acupuncture, create a regenerative environment with fire acupuncture and thread embedding, and treat the root pathology through an internal approach that empties stagnant blood and dampness.