Foot & Ankle Fusion Surgery
What is Foot & Ankle Fusion Surgery?
Foot & Ankle Fusion Surgery, also referred to as Arthrodesis involves the surgical fusion of bones on either side of joints in the foot and ankle.
Foot & Ankle fusion surgery is performed to relieve pain from arthritic joints by surgically eliminating the affected joint movement and fusing the bones around the joint together. Fusion is an effective treatment around the foot and ankle for arthritic pain from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, other inflammatory arthropathies and post-traumatic arthritis (following a fracture or repeated sprains). Joints around the foot and ankle where symptoms of arthritis (pain, swelling and deformity) can be successfully treated with a fusion procedure include:
- Ankle joint (tibiotalar)
- Subtalar joint
- Midfoot joints
- Interphalangeal joints
What about Foot & Ankle Joint Replacement Surgery?
Unlike larger joints (Hip, Knee, Shoulder) where joint replacements are the main surgical treatment for advanced arthritis, most joints of the foot and ankle including the subtalar, midfoot and most forefoot joints are not suitable for replacement procedures. Tibiotalar ankle joint replacement is an evolving area of orthopaedic surgery with ever-improving results, and may be a suitable alternate surgical treatment to fusion for some patients and conditions. Your surgeon will discuss the benefits and risks of each of these options after your assessment.
