Ankle fusion: How likely are complications?
Hello!
We see people with ankle pain all the time and try our best to ensure that they never need surgery for it. That is why we are known as the only place to go for the pain.
Sadly, some come to us, only after they have already had the surgery.
For those who are considering it, how likely are you to develop complications?
Let us look at what the research says.
Sixty people participated in this study. All underwent ankle fusion surgery.
“A total of forty-eight complications occurred in twenty-nine (48 %) of the patients.”
“Frequent complication was infection (23 %), non-union (23 %), inadequate surgical alignment or early loss of position (15%), malunion (12 %), and delayed union (7 %).”
For those of you that do not know inadequate surgical alignment means that the joint was not properly aligned when it was fused. Think of locking a trailer that is not in properly.
Malunion means that the bones that are fused healed abnormally.
Delayed union is when the bones that were fused do not grow together and close but stay open. Think of a wound that never seems to close and heal.
Thinking about all of this and the risk of complications, do you think surgery is right for you?
OR do you want to try something else instead?
Jason
