Unit of Foot and Ankle
Specialists in the study, diagnosis, and application of surgical techniques for foot surgery.
JOINT FUSION SURGERY OR ARTHRODESIS
In some cases, the patient presents advanced arthritic degeneration or such severe deformity in a foot or ankle joint that we have no choice but to perform joint fusion or arthrodesis.
The foot pathologies that most frequently require arthrodesis include advanced cases of flat foot or cavus foot, severe hallux rigidus (arthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint), or arthritis as a sequelae of joint fractures, such as calcaneal fractures or ankle fractures.
In the case of arthritic pathology of the ankle, our team will advise you on the most appropriate treatment for your case, as there is also ankle joint replacement surgery or total ankle prosthesis, which will ensure the goals of arthrodesis without losing the natural mobility of the joint.
The specialists at icatpie will evaluate each patient’s medical data (age, weight, presence of diseases such as diabetes, neurological or rheumatic conditions) and recommend the technique (arthrodesis or prosthesis) that guarantees the best results with the least possible complications.
Preoperative Radiology of a Patient with Hallux Rigidus (Severe Arthritis of the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint).
Postoperative Radiology.
An arthrodesis was performed using a plate and screws.
Postoperative Radiology of a Patient with Ankle Arthritis.
After evaluating the case, it was decided to perform an ankle arthrodesis using an intramedullary nail.
What is Joint Fusion (Arthrodesis) of the Foot or Ankle and When is it Indicated?
Arthrodesis is a surgical technique that first requires the preparation of the joint surfaces to be fused. Next, a bone graft (from the patient or a bone bank) is necessary, followed by osteosynthesis or fixation with nails, screws, or plates to maintain the correction achieved in cases of deformities and ensure the consolidation of the joint fusion.
Depending on each case, the surgeon will assess whether the arthrodesis should be performed through open or conventional surgery or if less invasive techniques, such as arthroscopy, can be used.
In the image, we see a preoperative X-ray of a patient with severe osteoarthritis of the subastragal joint (A), the talonavicular joint (B), and the calcaneocuboid joint (C).
