What Is Joint Fusion Surgery: Purpose, Procedure, and Complications

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:

• Wrists
• Fingers
• Thumbs
• Feet
• Anklet
• Spine

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:

• Diminished bone quality
• Infection
• Any neurological condition that may hinder the healing process
• Narrowed arteries

Though this surgical procedure is safe, some may undergo complications. They are:

• Bleeding
• Neurological damage
• Infection
• Painful scar tissue
• Broken hardware
• Arthritis in nearby joints
• Blood clotting

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:

• Regenerative Medicine: Regenerative medicines are a perfect alternative to fusion surgery for joint regeneration. It utilises your healing cells to cure the problem while controlling the symptoms.
• Cartiva: It is an implant made of a polymer plastic that treats arthritis in the big toe. The implant closely resembles natural cartilage and does not hinder your regular motion.
• MTP Implant: In case of replacing the MTP joint or big toe joint, you can use MTP or metal/plastic implant as an alternative.
• Ankle Replacement: In ankle replacement, doctors use an artificial ankle that mimics the ankle's natural movement. Moreover, it is anchored, so it won’t slip or loosen up with time.

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.