Post-operative pain will be measured using a pain diary for one week post-surgery. The purpose is to test the assumption that the arthroscopic technique leads to less post-operative pain and results in shorter hospital stays when compared to the open technique. It is believed that the arthroscopic technique will result in minimal pain when compared to the open technique, allowing this procedure to be performed as day surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ankle osteoarthritis with adequate bone stock

Exclusion Criteria:

• Mental or physical inability to consent or answer pain questions, pre-operative or peri-operative morbidity impairing mobility, pre-operative opioid therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or steroids within 24 hours before skin incision, kidney or liver dysfunction, morbid obesity, smoking, significant bony deformity, significant loss of bone stock or diabetes with sensory changes will be cause for exclusion.

Patients selected from the surgeons waitlist.