Dr. Dominick at the Foot and Ankle Institute of Colorado was recently featured by Paragon 28 for his surgery using a new plate to perform a Tibial TaloCalcaneal arthrodesis.
Check out this link to see some xrays and pictures and read more.
Ankle fusion or arthrodesis is a procedure we use to treat painful arthritis of the ankle, especially when people are not candidates for total ankle joint replacement. This used to be a more common procedure, but now with the improvement in ankle replacement surgery, it is becoming less common to have this done.
If the procedure heals correctly, the ankle joint is fused and stops hurting and causing pain. The problem is that the ankle joint no longer moves, so function of this is not as good as an ankle joint replacement. We also know if we fuse the ankle, patients over the long run will develop adjacent joint arthritis.
One common complication with ankle fusion is called a nonunion. This occurs when the two primary bones involved in the fusion, the tibia and the talus, do not grow together and form a united bone. This can happen for several reasons, but if it does happen, it leads to long-term pain and difficulty with walking.
These patients typically need a revision surgery to try to get the bones to fuse together, and this is one case example of what can be done if you are dealing with this.
If you are suffering from any foot and ankle pain, call your expert Colorado Springs foot and ankle surgeons and podiatrists today at 719-488-4664! Our whole team is dedicated to getting your back on your feet and walking as pain free as possible.
