Mary Anne Begelfer’s problems started when she tripped at home and broke her ankle almost 15 years ago. The native of Italy, grandma, and retired cosmetologist and retail sales associate had a full life. She wanted to get back to it as soon as she could.

However, the next years had some bumps in the road. First, she needed surgery to fix her ankle. Then she developed arthritis and needed ankle replacement surgery. Unfortunately, the ankle replacement was not successful. She was in constant pain.

Mary Anne was losing heart that she would return to her normal routine, which includes regular walks with friends in her hilly neighborhood.

“I was worried yes, sometimes,” the 75-year-old York resident says. “I was thinking am I going to have to go through this surgery again?”

Enter WellSpan orthopedic surgeon Dr. Christian Hall. Dr. Hall has more than a decade of experience, including a foot and ankle fellowship and five years as a U.S. Naval surgeon, performing complex reconstructive surgeries on patients who suffered war injuries.

Dr. Hall recommended a revision ankle replacement, done with state-of-the-art equipment and techniques.

“Ankle replacements are not as common as some of the other joint replacements that surgeons perform but I have done many of these surgeries,” Dr. Hall says. “I was confident we could fix Mary Anne’s ankle and restore her mobility. I wanted her to get back on her feet and feel better again.”

The Begelfers liked what they heard.

“He was professional and friendly, and very fair and open about it,” says Mary Anne’s husband, Larry, who was by his wife’s side the whole time. “He gave us confidence.”

Dr. Hall did the surgery on Mary Anne at WellSpan Surgery & Rehabilitation Hospital, where an anesthesiologist gave her an intravenous line to control her pain, and the nursing team members were very attentive. Rehabilitation followed, which helped Mary Anne to regain her mobility. Within six weeks, she could take off a walking boot, just as Dr. Hall promised her.

Now Mary Anne is back to walking with her friends, and said her strength and endurance continue to build. Dr. Hall told her it could take up to two years to heal.

“She has made steady progress and looks great,” Dr. Hall says. “This is our goal for patients. It’s rewarding to see them thrive.”

“I was very, very pleased with Dr. Hall,” Mary Anne says. “I trusted him and afterward I did all he told me to do, and I started to feel much better.

“I’d like to walk even a little more and it’s progressing. I could not be happier.“

For more information on our state-of-the-art joint replacement program, go here.