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Doctors suggest joint fusion surgery to cure arthritis pain in parts like the spine, finger, ankle and thumbs when the conservative treatment method fails to show any result. In the process, the ends of a joint are fused to release pain and avoid the complication of surgeries.
Read along to know the purpose, procedure, risks and recovery of joint fusion surgery in detail.
Arthrodesis or joint fusion surgery is a method to fuse bone joints when other treatments for severe arthritis pain do not yield effective results. This surgical procedure aids the aching joint and creates a solid bone, making the joint more stable and helps bear more weight.
If no other treatment works for your severe arthritis pain, surgeons may suggest joint fusion surgery. Furthermore, it relieves back pain symptoms, such as scoliosis and the degenerative disk condition.
This surgical procedure can be performed on different joints, such as:
Nonetheless, given the long recovery period, surgeons confirm whether the patient can cope with the extended healing process. Therefore, joint fusion surgery is not recommended for patients with the following health conditions:
Though this surgical procedure is safe, some may undergo complications. They are:
In addition, smokers are at greater risk due to a condition known as pseudoarthrosis. Under such a condition, not enough bone can be formed for your joint to join completely.
Based on the type of joint fusion the patient requires, surgeons follow the steps below to perform the surgery.
Step 1: Doctors will choose between general and local anaesthesia.
Step 2: They will cut your skin and scrape away the damaged tissue inside your joint to fuse your bones.
Step 3: They may use pins, plates or other connective hardware to hold your bones together. Based on the condition, they may take a bone graft from the pelvis, heel or below the knee to encourage fusion.
Step 4: They use screws, metal plates or wires to close the area between your joints. Then, they will close the incision with surgical staples or sutures.
After joint fusion surgery, be patient and avoid adding pressure to the area. With time, your joint ends will grow and become one piece. Also, until this happens, you will have to protect it by wearing braces or casts to keep weight off.
Additionally, the doctors may suggest you use equipment like a walker, crutches, wheelchair, etc. The healing usually takes 12 weeks, so if you need help with household chores, arrange for some help.
Apart from this, there will be stiffness in your joint after surgery, and it may even result in reduced motion. So, opting for physical therapy serves as a good option.
Though it is best to go through the procedure for arthritis, the following are the alternatives you can opt for in place of joint fusion surgery:
Generally, the cost of joint fusion surgery in India ranges between ₹ 2,60,000 to ₹ 3,40,000. However, it may vary across cities and the hospital where you may arrange your treatment.
Nonetheless, though joint fusion surgery effectively relieves arthritis pain, it does not guarantee to prevent you from pain in the future.
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Disclaimer #1: *Customer can choose options at the time of availing insurance. Premium amount may vary accordingly. Insured is required to disclose any pre-existing condition or on going treatment before policy issuance in the proposal form.
Disclaimer #2: This information is added only for informative purposes and collected from different sources across the Internet. Digit Insurance is not promoting or recommending anything here. Please verify the information before making any decisions.
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