Overview

What is Arthroscopic Arthrodesis?

Arthroscopic arthrodesis or ankle fusion is a procedure for treating advanced degenerative osteoarthritis in the ankle. Arthrodesis is a surgical procedure to fuse the bones of the ankle, relieve pain, and restore the joint's functional properties. Ankle fusion is generally a procedure where all the cartilage from one joint is removed; then, two or more bones are then joined together so there will be no movement between them. Fusions may be performed with screws, plates or pins or a combination of these materials.

The ankle is a joint that joins the shinbone, or the tibia, to the upper bone of the foot. Ankle arthritis occurs when the cartilage that protects the bones of the joints wears away with time. The added stress at the joint of the ankles over time thins out and may even eat away the cartilage. Arthritic conditions develop at joints of the ankle and may create stiffness and pain, which may affect balance and walking. Ankle fusion may be a very useful treatment in patients with severe arthritis of the ankle; they have lost all their cartilage in the ankle. It is generally reserved for use when all other treatments fail. Full mobility usually returns to most patients after an ankle fusion surgery, along with relief from arthritis pain.

What does ankle fusion surgery treat?

A number of conditions impact the ability of an ankle to function properly and are thus treated with ankle fusion surgery.

Among the most common is end-stage ankle arthritis. This is the most advanced stage possible, in which the cartilage that normally fills the space between the bones is completely gone and the bone touches another bone.

Other reasons for performing the surgery include:

Other degenerative joint diseases
Neuromuscular disorders
Ankle deformities
Charcot foot
Bone infection
Failed ankle replacement

What happens before ankle fusion?

Before the surgery, your surgeon will take X-rays of your ankle joint to measure it. This will guide him on how to put the screws, plates, or bone grafts in the most ideal position.

You may also be advised against certain things such as drinking alcohol.

The last preparation before surgery is to administer you with a nerve blocker and general or local anesthesia about a few minutes before your surgery.

What usually occurs during the procedure ankle fusion?

This is what usually occurs when you're undergoing the actual procedure:

Your surgeon makes an incision on your ankle to expose the bones and cartilage.
Your surgeon removes the cartilage from the bones in the joint.
Your surgeon grinds the bones with surgical instruments so that they fuse.
Your surgeon then aligns the bones. He fuses them using plates, screws, or bone graft material.
Your surgeon sutures the wound closed.

What happens after ankle fusion?

Immediately after surgery, the medical team will be casting the ankle so that it does not move much. Pain medication will also be administered to the patient.

Before you are discharged, the medical team will instill in you various precautions regarding the incision and other aspects.

What is the benefit of an ankle fusion surgery?

The most important benefit is the improvement in quality of life caused by an ankle fusion. Most patients who undergo a fusion report that they no longer experience such ailments during the healing process, at least to a lesser degree than before. It can be a safe and effective means of reducing manifestations that other treatments could not.

Most patients can continue all their usual physical activities, including exercising or sporting.

What are the risks associated with fusion surgery for an ankle?

As with other surgical procedures, there are particular risks associated with surgery on the ankle; these are:

Damage to nerves
Infection
Failure of the bones to fuse
Continued pain around the incision

One potential complication years after ankle fusion surgery is the emergence of arthritis in adjacent joints to the ankle due to the increased and additional stress that may be placed on them.

How long is the recovery time for ankle fusion?

Typically, it takes a few months to recover after an ankle fusion surgery.

As healing occurs, those fused bones will grow together into one, making your ankle stronger, more stable and less painful. However, everyone heals at his or her own natural pace. Bones usually fuse in about 12 weeks, or three months.

When to call the health care provider?

Call your surgeon or healthcare provider immediately if you have any of these symptoms:

Fever of 101 degrees F (39 degrees C) or higher.
Bleeding.
Increased redness, swelling, drainage, or foul odor at your incision site or localized warmth
New or increased pain.