Explaining fusion surgery

Question: What does it mean to have fusion surgery?

Answer: Fusion surgery is commonly used to treat arthritic joints of the ankle and foot. It is also frequently used in the spine and rarely used in other major joints such as the knee, hip and shoulder.

The ultimate goal of fusing a joint is pain relief. The surgery literally involves “fusing” a joint together so it no longer exists. Motion at that particular joint is eliminated. The premise behind this is that an arthritic joint that no longer exists will no longer cause pain.

When your orthopedist performs this surgery, an environment is created similar to a bone that is fractured. The joint, or fusion site, is held together usually with some type of metal fixation, such as plates and screws. Often they are held together in a way similar to a fractured bone. Very commonly some type of bone graft is used to aid in the healing process.

The main disadvantage of fusion surgery is the loss of motion from that joint. However, patients who are in enough pain will gladly trade in their motion for pain relief.

Lastly, when considering fusion surgery, it is important to understand the recovery period involved. It is not uncommon to require 10-12 weeks of non weight bearing to allow the fusion to heal. Your orthopedist creates the environment for the fusion to occur. However, it is the body that actually fuses the joint together. Just like a fracture, it needs time to heal.