About to have a subtalar joint fusion - Foot Problems Message Board

bjj player · 01-27-2006, 03:14 PM

Im about to have a subtalar joint fusion in june, and wanted to know if any one has had this type of surgery. I have osteoarthritis in my ankle, so far im not sure if I want to have this surgery since its not a guarantee that the pain will go away. So if there is any one who has had this operation I would greatly appreciate if I could get a response on the people who benefitted this type of fusion. thank you

wtwct · 01-28-2006, 07:17 AM

Good Morning! I have had a triple fusion which includes subtalar, talar navicular and calcanial cuboid (heel fusion) My sutalar was trashed and it caused pain all the time. The joints that they fused have no pain at all. The recovery time on this fusion is about 12 weeks before they will let you weight bear. For me, this was the only bad part. I cannot stand sitting around. How did you come to have arthritis in your ankle? I have severe arthritis also. Some time down the road, I am looking to have an ankle replacement.

More questions, did you have an accident, do you have flat feet, are you active?

Alinka · 01-28-2006, 03:32 PM

Hi, I am going to have this surgery in the begining of September, so I look for some information too - did you have it done with a bone graft? If so, where was it so taken from? They want to take mine from the pelvis, but I am not quite sure if that is good as I am a woman still planning to have some kids - and so I am a bit scared in terms of touching the pelvis in any way.

wtwct · 01-31-2006, 05:36 PM

They did not take bone graft with my second round of fusions. They used synthetic bone and that worked very well. With my first fusion, they took a piece from my heel. I would not suggest this as cyst form later in life. Will post more later.

bjj player · 01-31-2006, 11:28 PM

Thanks for the reply wtwct, I have flat feet. My left foot does'nt bother me at all, its my right foot thats giving me all the problems. First time I went to my doctors appointment he told me I had a tarsal coalition, so after some time thinking about it I had surgery to remove the coalition. I was off work for about 4 months, having that surgery was the worst decision of my life! Now my foot hurts 10 times as bad, I wish I would have just left my foot the way it was. So now Im having the fusion done in june but im still having doubts on it. Wtwct do you think its worth having the fusion? I mean how long after the fusion do have before you need an ankle replacement?