Ankle fusion is a last resort procedure performed at The Stone Clinic for ankles with significant arthritis, usually due to previous trauma to the ankle.

After all physical therapy methods, joint debridement, and cartilage grafting procedures have either failed or are not indicated, ankle fusion can be performed at an outpatient surgery center. Ankle fusion often provides immediate and complete relief to a patient who has suffered from ankle arthritis for years. A well-done ankle fusion permits a patient to return to dancing, walking, and even running, with minimal evidence that ankle fusion was ever performed. The surgical technique that Dr. Stone has modified over the years, involves two arthroscopic portals at the front medial and lateral aspects of the joint, debriding the old arthritis in order to create fresh bleeding bone surfaces, and then attaching the talus to the tibia using two percutaneous screws. This technique has resulted in excellent fusion and pain relief.