Two-in-one Surgery: A Simultaneous Subtaler Arthrodesis

This blog has focused on the ankle replacement, but I actually had two separate procedures. Dr. Nunley explained that the ankle replacement would not alleviate all of the arthritic pain: I also needed a simultaneous subtalar arthrodesis. Since I didn't know what either subtalar nor arthrodesis meant, I was satisfied with his brief explanation that by fusing some of the joints in the back of the foot, I would have less pain. That was good enough for me.

Now that I am home and recovering, I started to wonder a little more about this second surgery. First of all, it is another incision. Arthrodesis is the surgical immobilization of a joint by fusing adjacent bones. In this case, the subtalar joint is fused just below the ankle joint between the talus and the heel (or calcaneus) bone.

Dr. Nunley assured me that the fusion would not affect the movement of my ankle; with both the ankle replacement and the fusion I would maintain full and natural motion of my foot.

Since both surgeries were done at once, I can recover from both simultaneously. The post-surgical recovery plan is the same for both -- casting followed by a boot, pain medication, no weight bearing for 3-5 weeks and then minimal for a few months, or until the individual is able to walk without any pain. According to the research I did online, the fusion might stiffen the the hind foot, what patients lose in motion, they usually make up in pain relief and stability in walking. I might need to get used to walking on uneven surfaces, "but most patients have such improved function that they would do the procedure again." That is a pretty good endorsement.

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