Toe Fusion???? - Foot Problems Message Board

jerod76801 · 06-17-2008, 03:25 PM

Hello everyone i have not been here for a while. A little history, I am a very athletic 25 year old male, 2 years ago I dropped a 45lb dumbell on the joint of my big toe and crushed it. I was in a cast for 6 weeks. a year later went to the pod and he said the joint was almost fused together and it was killing me. He suggested a fusion or implant my choice, I decided to go with the implant. After the surger he said the bone was oval shaped from being crushed so bad, anyway the surgery went well. That was six months ago and now my foot feels worse than before. I went to the pod and he said the bone is already growning around the implant, because i am so young and healthy. He said we need to go ahead and fuse before it caused more foot problems, already causing stress fractures from walking on the side of my foot. Any way my real question is he said when he does the fusion he will use a bone graft with synthetic bone I believe. Most of the post i read use the patients actuall bone for a graft what is the difference? Another thing is he said instead of a cast, he will use a external fixator for six weeks, why would he use this instead of a cast.
Thanks to anyone who responds

janewhite1 · 06-17-2008, 03:57 PM

Get another opinion from an orthopedist before you go under the knife again. Maybe this is the right thing to do, maybe it isn't, but get another opinion first.

debbie g · 06-18-2008, 03:23 PM

i agree-get another opinion by a an ortho specialist. i think everyone has a cast after fusion so i cant answer your question. maybe the surgery for you may not be that bad. they took bone for my graft from the side of my foot toward the ankle.

badfeet51 · 06-18-2008, 09:50 PM

debbieg. i did not have cast after my fusion unntill the pin did not work and he put a screw in and then put me in an air cast. i believe had i had the air cast from the beginning i would not be facing yet another surgery

jerod76801 · 06-19-2008, 12:49 AM

Thanks for the replys, I am going to see a os who specializes in foot and ankle next week. The implant has been nothing but trouble, never got any range of motion back, and still very painful. He showed me on the x rays, that the implant was straight when he put it in, and now it is turning inwards, he said because the bone is growning around it. It you have had a fusion with a bone graft how long was the recovery and how long were u nwb. If they take the bone from the heel is that easier than the hip, and what about bone from a bank.
thanks