Joint Fusion Procedures in Kansas City

Prior to surgery, you will typically receive at least 2 phone calls:

• A hospital registration representative will call to gather insurance and other personal information.
• A registered nurse will call to review your health history and medication information.

Dependent on your health history, your physician may require:

• Pre-surgical laboratory tests
• X-rays
• Primary care clearance

Pre-operative instructions will vary depending on your physician and the location of your surgery.

Always check with your physician before surgery for specific instructions.

Most physicians require that patients not eat or drink after midnight prior to surgery.

Additionally, you will need to designate a family member or friend to drive you home on the day you are released from the hospital. Surgical patients cannot drive themselves home.

If you schedule your surgery with a KCOA physician, you can expect the following on surgery day: 

• A receptionist will check you in at the hospital registration desk.
• A nurse will take you back and prepare you for surgery. They will start an IV, prepare the surgical site, and review your medical history and medications.
• Your surgeon and anesthesiologist will visit with you prior to your operation.
• The surgical team will take you to the operation suite for surgery.

When conservative and non-surgical options aren’t enough, your provider may recommend more invasive procedures, such as ankle joint fusion. For this procedure, we sedate patients with anesthesia and make incisions both in and around the ankle to reach the joint.

After placing the patient under anesthesia, the surgeon will make an incision on either the outside or front of the ankle. They may also use a less invasive technique where a camera and other tools are placed into the joint for enhanced precision.

After reaching the joint, your surgeon will remove any damaged cartilage or bony tissue and prepare the joint for fusion.

Plates, screws and surgical nails may all be used during the procedure to hold the ankle in the proper position. Your surgeon will also use X-Rays during your surgery to ensure both proper alignment of the joint and the correct placement of hardware. This will ultimately depend on the unique needs of the patient

After aligning the joint and inserting the proper hardware, the surgeon will close the incision area with staples or sutures. Following the procedures, patients can expect to leave in splints or a boot to protect the area.

A patient’s recovery plan and timeline will vary based on various factors, including age, activity level, goals, and more.

However, taking care of your body will be essential to ensure optimal results from your ankle joint fusion.

Immediately after your surgery, it’s important to keep your ankle elevated to reduce swelling. Your care team will also provide you with pain medication, as patients may experience soreness or discomfort immediately following surgery.

For most patients, you can expect to wear a splint on your ankle for at least a few weeks and to keep weight off your ankle for several weeks after.

During this time, your care team will provide you with some sort of assisted device like a walker, wheelchair, crutches, or a knee scooter.

Ankle fusion is a significant procedure and you should expect soreness, swelling and bruising after surgery. This should subside within a few weeks.

Within 10-14 days, your provider will remove any stitches or staples and may begin physical therapy around this time.

Depending on your individual recovery plan, patients will progress to more vigorous activity gradually and often with the guidance of a physical therapist and your orthopedic treatment team.