Osteoarthritis or ankle arthritis occurs when the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones roughens and gradually becomes thin and thickens the bone underneath. This results in swelling, pain and occasional joint deformity. An ankle surgeon NY professional may need to operate if the symptoms are severe.
Ankle Fusion
This is one of the surgical options that can be used to correct osteoarthritis. The procedure involves the damaged ankle joint being removed and the talus bone being fused to the tibia to create a stiff, pain-free ankle. The foot is fused in the standing position, which is essentially at a right angle to the leg. Screws are used to hold the bones together and new bone growth follows, creating a single bone instead of two. Typically the fusion takes between 12 and 14 weeks to complete. The bone will continue to strengthen thereafter