What is ankle fusion?

Ankle fusion is a surgical procedure in which two bones within one of your ankle joints are permanently joined together. It's a form of joint fusion, also known as arthrodesis. Healthcare providers sometimes use the term ankle arthrodesis.

Joints are where two bones meet in your body. Your ankle joint links your foot to your lower leg. More precisely, it's the point at which your tibia (shin bone) and fibula (calf bone) meet your talus (ankle bone).

Occasionally, surgeons use an ankle fusion procedure to treat severe ankle arthritis. Arthritis will wear away the cushioning and lubricating cartilage around your ankle. Over time, this will damage your joints and cause tremendous pain as your bones rub against each other. Your surgeon will fuse the bones in your ankle joint to form one bone. The extra friction inside your ankle will be reduced, and your pain will be relieved.

A healthcare provider generally indicates that you would go for ankle fusion if the other nonsurgical treatments were not efficient in easing your symptoms. Fusion can reduce severe pain, stiffness, and other symptoms that make it hard to move and use your ankle.

Why might I need an ankle fusion?

You might require an ankle fusion if you suffer from severe arthritis on your ankle. It can cause serious effects such as very severe pain, inflammation, and stiffness. These can make walking difficult. There are three main forms of arthritis in the ankle. The common among them is as follows:

Osteoarthritis, which results from wear and tear with age
It is caused by an autoimmune disease that affects the joints, known as rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis is a condition that arises due to some prior injury to your joint.

For mild or moderate arthritis, your doctor will likely first suggest other treatments. These treatments can be over-the-counter pain medications and injections of corticosteroids. You can be prescribed special shoes or shoe inserts. Or you may be advised to have physical therapy. If the symptoms you have are extreme and prevent you from performing daily functions, your doctor should talk to you about having an ankle fusion surgery. Talk to your doctor.

What happens before ankle fusion?

You will see your doctor and surgeon before you undergo an ankle fusion. They'll ask about the symptoms you are experiencing, how they impact your daily routine, and your quality of life. They will review what nonsurgical treatments you have attempted and ask how well those worked for you.

Be honest with your providers. Surgery that permanently changes your ankle joint is scary, but don't underestimate your experiences. Tell your providers if ankle pain or other symptoms make day-to-day activities hard or if they're bad enough to make you avoid certain activities.

Before your surgery date, you'll need:

You may need a physical examination to confirm that you are fit for the surgery.
Blood tests.
Imaging tests, such as X-rays. You'll be asked to have an MRI or CT scan.
Advice your doctor and surgeon of all prescription or over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements you are taking. Many drugs and supplements must be discontinued before surgery.
Your surgeon will advise you on the duration of fasting required the day prior to the procedure. Typically, patients are told to abstain from food and drink for 12 hours prior to undergoing ankle fusion surgery.

What happens during ankle fusion?

You will receive anesthesia on the day of your surgery that renders you numb so that you do not feel anything at all. An anesthesiologist will administer either general anesthesia, which puts you to sleep, or regional anesthesia, which numbs a region around your ankle.

In an ankle fusion, a surgeon permanently joins bones in your ankle together.

Most ankle fusions are open surgeries. That means your surgeon will make incisions or cuts in your skin to make the surgery on your ankle joint. Steps involved in an open ankle fusion by your surgeon include the following:

Make incisions in the skin surrounding the ankle joint.
Do away with the damaged cartilage and bone.
Insert a screw, a plate, or both, in your ankle bones to join them together properly.
Close the incisions while securing the fasteners in place.
Some people choose to undergo ankle fusions in the arthroscopy of the ankle. This surgery is minimal. Your surgeon will make a smaller incision in your ankle as it would be with an open surgery. Then, they insert a unique tool called an arthroscope into your ankle. The arthroscope has a camera and light, so your surgeon may see what is happening inside your ankle.
It is the same steps; only the right surgery technique fits you.

How long does ankle fusion take?

Ankle fusions typically take several hours. How long your surgery will take again mainly depends on what damage your ankle joint has sustained and which type of surgery you are having.

What happens after ankle fusion?

Ankle fusion is often an ambulatory procedure, meaning you go home the same day. Your surgeon will put your ankle into a brace or boot to support it and prevent you from bearing weight on it.

After surgery, you must use crutches, a walker, or other support means for several weeks.

What are the benefits of undergoing ankle fusion surgery?

Of course, the primary benefit at this stage would be quality-of-life improvement. Perhaps one in four to one in three fusion patients will experience meaningful relief of pain and other symptoms—sometimes, these symptoms disappear entirely once a patient heals. It is a safe and effective method for symptom reduction that different treatments may not have controlled in the first place.

Most people are able to resume all the exercises or sports they engage in as part of their daily activities.

What are the complications of an ankle fusion?

Although it is not often detected, non-union is the most common complication after an ankle fusion procedure. Non-union occurs when the bones on your ankles do not join as they should, and you may need another surgery to join them.

Ankle fusion, like other surgical interventions, has its risks, which include:

Infection.
Bleeding.
Pain.
Reactions to anesthesia.

A permanently fused ankle reduces its range of motion or how far you can turn it. The bones are fused to a solid mass, so after surgery, you can't move your ankle as much. You can, however, still move your heel sideways and the middle and front of your foot forward and backward. Even though you have reduced motion in your fused ankle, most people with severe ankle pain who undergo an ankle fusion do not have the downside to overcome the benefit.

Ankle fusion has a direct effect of causing any disease or injury to those joints. These can easily transform into arthritis. In ankle fusion patients, the other joints of the foot have a higher tendency to develop arthritis because of the increased stress on those joints following the fusion.

Some patients might require additional surgeries in the future.

Discuss the risk of complications with your surgeon, who will identify potential risks and then determine if joint fusion is appropriate for you.

How long does it take to recover from an ankle fusion?

In general, it may take several months of recovery after the ankle joint surgery.

Once you heal, the fused bones will grow together and attach as one. This will help stabilize your ankle, making it stronger and less painful. Everyone heals naturally; on average, it takes about 12 weeks, around three months, for bones to fuse.

Who is not a good candidate for ankle fusion?

Your doctor normally will only suggest you have the procedure if other nonsurgical treatments have been tried.

You would not be a candidate to have a procedure to have your ankle fused if:

The bones of your ankle are diseased or seriously weakened.

You have a disease, like Peripheral Artery Disease, compromises blood flow.

You have nerve damage in your legs or ankles.

Can I walk normally after an ankle fusion surgery?

You may need several weeks to get accustomed to a newly forged ankle, but once it has healed, you should be able to walk and move around.

You may require physical therapy to regain your strength as you heal. A physical therapist will assist you in safely reintroducing your ankle into activity. Generally, walking and putting weight on your ankle will be safe after a month or two following the surgery.

Your surgeon will tell you when it is appropriate to return to normal activity and what to expect.

When should I follow up with my healthcare provider?

Call your surgeon or health care provider at once if you have any of the following:

Fever greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius).
Bleeding.
Increasing redness, swelling, decreased skin turgor, purulent drainage, warmth, or pain at the surgery site.
Increased or different types of pain.

Why Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Ankle Fusion Open Surgery/ Arthroscopic Arthrodesis?

Tender Palm Hospital, owned by doctors, is renowned for attracting the most skilled professionals in the country. With the finest Orthopedic surgeons, specialized in Ankle Fusion Open Surgery/ Arthroscopic Arthrodesis. Tender Palm stands out as the premier orthopedic hospital in Lucknow, India. Boasting cutting-edge infrastructure and advanced technology, Tender Palm ensures top-notch medical care for its patients.