triple arthrodesis

[latelatebloomer]

Hey everyone, a very active coworker is facing surgery to get her ankle fused (she was a dancer, apparently the ankle bones are totally collapsed and she lives with a great deal of pain.) The surgery is called a "triple arthrodesis" and I offered to buzz this forum to find out if anyone has experience with this and, especially, how life was afterwards. Thanks! -llb

[traveller_62]

latelate,

i have no personal experience with this but i have an employee who just had serious ankle reconstruction due to an accident.

my understanding is that you want a surgeon that has done a bunch of these procedures because it is a complicated surgical technique. it is apparently also considered a "last ditch" attempt to restore some stability to the ankle joint and to ease pain. it would not be uncommon for the positive effects of the surgery to erode over time.

your friend should ask the doc how many times he/she has performed the surgery and what the outcomes have been. hopefully there is a hospital close by to your friend that has a foot and ankle surgical clinic/center.

hope it goes well!

traveller