What are the risks involved with ankle and foot fusion surgery?
All patients are at risk of complications following surgery, but complications do not occur frequently. The following are the main complications to be aware of: • Anaesthetic complications occur when the anaesthesia given during surgery causes a reaction with other drugs the patient is taking or a patient may have a problem with anaesthesia itself. • Nerve and blood vessel damage: it is possible that the nerves of the foot or the blood vessels around the ankle can be injured. This may result in numbness in the foot. Severe injuries of the blood vessels of the foot could lead to the need for an amputation. • Infection: following surgery, it is possible that the surgical incision can become infected. This will require antibiotics and may require another surgical procedure to drain the infection. • Non-union: this is when the bone fails to unite, although it is very rare, as the bone in this area has a good blood supply. If this does happen further procedures, including bone grafting, may
