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Arthrodesis Surgery
Relevant information about Arthrodesis Surgery.
Arthrodesis, better known as joint fusion, is a type of joint surgery usually done on advanced arthritis patients. Depending on the joint affected, the patient may have the option of joint replacement surgery or Arthrodesis.
This surgical procedure is performed when the patient’s joints are severely damaged by arthritis and the pain has become impossible to relieve. However, not all joints are candidates for Arthrodesis. The procedure is mostly performed on ankles and wrists and can be considered for thumbs, toes, fingers and the top vertebrae in the neck.
At the beginning of the surgery, the patient is placed in a position that is conducive to the kind of Arthrodesis being performed. The procedure varies according to the area to be treated, but there are only two different techniques used to fuse the bones in the joint. The first one is called Intra- Articular Arthrodesis and the second one, Extra-Articular Arthrodesis. In both, an incision is made over the area to be treated and the joint surface on the bones on both sides of the joint is removed. This initial process is called Debridement of the bony surface and its purpose is to increase surface contact area. For Intra- Articular Arthrodesis , the joint is then held stiff with a cast or metal hardware until the debrided bone ends grow together. For Extra-Articular Arthrodesis, fusion of the bone ends is achieved by implanting bone grafts along the side of the joint.
A cast is placed over the fused joint. Also, movements of the treated part are limited until there is x-ray evidence of fusion. The patient must avoid bearing significant weight for at least 12 weeks. Crutches or wheelchairs are recommended for the post-surgical process.
Arthrodesis tends to be a successful procedure. Complications are rare, but the most common are deficient wound healing and pain at the site of bone fusion. Nerve injury, infection, or broken hardware like pins or screws are possible causes for these. However, the most troublesome complication may be a failed fusion, which happens when the joint physically does not fuse.
Arthrodesis stabilizes the fused joint, improving alignment and restoring skeletal stability.
Arthrodesis implies that the patient will not recover the previous flexibility and motion of the treated joint.
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