Joint Fusion or Arthrodesis

Injury to a joint or arthritis can cause pain when the foot moves. If you suffer from a lot of pain and have severe joint destruction, your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure called a fusion. This procedure is also known as an arthrodesis. Surgery involved: (1) removal of the painful joint; (2) fusion of the two bones. The surgeon will use screws and/or special brackets to help hold the bones together and in the correct position while the joined bones heal.

It is important to understand that only the bones involved in the fusion are solidly fixed. All of the other joints in the foot will still move. For example, if you have an ankle fusion your range of motion in your ankle will decrease a lot. However, there are many other joints (e.g. toes and arch) in your foot and they will still be able to move.

Ankle Fusion: The damaged cartilage is surgically removed from the ends the talus, tibia and fibula (the blue-shaded area).

The ends of the bones are joined together and held in place by scres. In time, new bone forms and "glues" the joint together.