Arthrodesis is a surgical procedure to stiffen the ankle joint. For this purpose, the articular surfaces are removed and the tibia is joined with the talus bone so that they become permanent fusing. Movement in the place of the operated joint is impossible, which is the intended effect - thanks to the stiffening of the ankle joint, pain relief, correction of incorrect positioning and restoration of the limb support function are achieved.

The arthrodesis procedure is most often performed in patients who suffer from pain associated with advanced degenerative changes of the ankle joint. The condition for qualification is the lack of effects of conservative treatment or the lack of purposefulness of undertaking other methods of surgical treatment. Stiffening of the ankle joint is also performed in extensive post-traumatic conditions involving the ankle joint. In addition, arthrodesis can be used as a method of correcting foot deformities, such as fixed flatfoot or clubfoot in adults.

Most patients are given epidural anesthesia to eliminate feeling from the waist down or the nerves supplying the operated limb are blocked. The ankle brace procedure is most often performed by the open method - the surgeon makes an incision of several centimeters on the side or in front of the ankle joint. Thanks to this, it has maximum access to the pond and can precisely correct its incorrect position. Arthrodesis can also be performed using the arthroscopic method, which leaves minimal scars (up to 4mm), but this method is reserved for smaller degrees of deformation.

During the operation, the surgeon removes the debris of the damaged cartilage, and then prepares the end of the tibia and the talus to allow them to heal later in the corrected position. The connection is stabilized with special screws or plates. The wounds are closed and a plaster splint is placed over the foot and ankle.