body may be stemmed as just described or affixed directly to the tibia without use of a stem likewise the lower prosthetic body may be stemmed or affixed directed to the talus certain representative embodiments are found in u s patent application ser no 09 694 100 now u s pat no 6 663 669 filed oct 20 2000 entitled u201c ankle replacement system u201d which is incorporated herein by reference in one embodiment the stem for the talar component does not extend beyond the inferior surface of the talar in another embodiment a subtalar joint i e the joint formed between talus and calcaneus is fused to allow fixation of the lower prosthesis body to both the talus and calcaneus the subtalar joint may be fused using any method common to those of skill in the surgical arts including but not limited to fusion with for example poly methylmethacrylate bone cement hydroxyapatite ground bone and marrow composition plates and screws or a combination thereof fig1 shows one method of fusing the talus 15 to the calcaneus 17 using a stem 110 a plate 130 and screws 133 a 133 b the talo calcaneal stem 110 is shown with a morse taper 115 a protruding from the stem 110 and extending beyond the proximal top surface of the talus 15 in another embodiment the morse taper could extend down from the talar component into the stem fig1 also shows an arrangement in which the lower end of the tibia has not been cut and does not.