ankle replacement or fusion?

[tess1965]

I have a severely arthritic ankle due to a previous injury and it seems the only options available are either ankle replacement or fusion.  Doctors have previously said I'm too young for ankle replacement (I'm 44) but now seem to be changing their minds as ankle replacements are becoming more common and successful.  The idea seems more appealing than a fusion but I'd love to hear from anyone who has experience of either procedure.
Thanks
Tessa.

[tess1965]

Hi Phill
thanks for your message.  What you say backs up a lot of what I've read, I think the doctors would like to try out ankle replacement to perfect their techniques, but not sure if it would be right for me yet. Like you I'm holding out until I can bear the pain no longer and who knows, technology may improve. The idea of ankle fusion seems so final I can't quite accept the idea just yet.  

[Phill614]

Hi Tess, this guy has got to be kidding, he doesn't have a clue.  i have an ankle that on the border of needing to be fused, i'm in constant pain.  i'd live to have a replacement ankle but the technology isn't quite there yet, yes they have the replacements but there plenty of problems that people incure according to my podieatrist (spelling, foot doctor).  i have had my ankle scoped 3 times and one major ankle operation.  as long i can still walk and bare the pain i'll wait, although sometimes it really gets me down from being in pain for so long.   good luck with ankle.  ps this doctor is a general practioner and not a specialist i'd wouldn't do anything he suggested unless it was for a cough.  

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

With ankle replacement you can always strengthen your ankle by physiotherapy and have more range of movements than an ankle fusion procedure where arthrodesis is performed and the bones are fused.

The pain will be less in fusion but with physiotherapy the pain will decrease over a period of time with ankle replacement.

Ankle fusion can always be performed if ankle replacement fails.

Take care!