Subtalar fusion operative information

You have an abnormality of the joint between the talus and os calcis, the two bones in the ankle and hindfoot.
This causes a severe restriction of movement between these two bones.
With time, progressive degeneration occurs at this joint which increases your pain.
I have proposed a fusion of the subtalar joint, which I believe has an excellent chance of significantly reducing and probably abolishing your pain.
I will stabilise the fusion with a screw between the two bones. You will therefore have two scars, one on the outer side of the foot and one on the heel.
You will be in hospital for two nights after surgery and your leg will be placed in a half plaster.
You will be mobilised by the physiotherapists on crutches without taking weight through that leg initially.
You will be seen at two weeks where I will check the wounds and place a full plaster on the leg which will remain for a further four weeks. You will still not bear weight through the foot but will be able to rest it on the floor for balance.
At six weeks, post surgery, I will remove the plaster and exchange it for a walking boot which will be worn whenever you are upright but can be removed for bathing, when resting and at night.
The risks of surgery include infection, bleeding into the wound, nerve injury resulting in altered feeling along the foot, failure of fusion and persisting discomfort. The chances of complications are small, the majority being in the order of less than 1%, although the risk of the fusion not joining would be somewhere between 5% and 10%. If this were to occur you may need a second operation.
You will be seen at three months after surgery where an X-ray will be taken to check on fusion. Assuming all is satisfactory, the boot will be removed and you will mobilise with more normal shoewear. An orthotic (insole) may be required. You will need ongoing physiotherapy to help with your rehabilitation.
The overall time period for recovery will be approximately nine months but the last three months you will be independently mobile with few problems.

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Subtalar fusion operative information You have an abnormality of the joint between the talus and os calcis, the two bones in the ankle and hindfoot. This causes a severe restriction of movement between these two bones. With time, progressive degeneration occurs at this joint which increases your pain. I have proposed a fusion of the subtalar joint, which I believe has an excellent chance of significantly reducing and probably abolishing your pain. I will stabilise the fusion with a screw between the two bones. You will therefore have two scars, one on the outer side of the foot and one on the heel. You will be in hospital for two nights after surgery and your leg will be placed in a half plaster. You will be mobilised by the physiotherapists on crutches without taking weight through that leg initially. You will be seen at two weeks where I will check the wounds and place a full plaster on the leg which will remain for a further four weeks. You will still not bear weight through the foot but will be able to rest it on the floor for balance. At six weeks, post surgery, I will remove the plaster and exchange it for a walking boot which will be worn whenever you are upright but can be removed for bathing, when resting and at night. The risks of surgery include infection, bleeding into the wound, nerve injury resulting in altered feeling along the foot, failure of fusion and persisting discomfort. The chances of complications are small, the majority being in the order of less than 1%, although the risk of the fusion not joining would be somewhere between 5% and 10%. If this were to occur you may need a second operation. You will be seen at three months after surgery where an X-ray will be taken to check on fusion. Assuming all is satisfactory, the boot will be removed and you will mobilise with more normal shoewear. An orthotic (insole) may be required. You will need ongoing physiotherapy to help with your rehabilitation. The overall time period for recovery will be approximately nine months but the last three months you will be independently mobile with few problems. Back to Patient Guides
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