Who is a good candidate for ankle fusion surgery?
Ankle fusion surgery is not good for patients who can manage their symptoms with simpler, nonoperative treatments. Patients who have an ankle fusion will have a permanently stiff joint, and may be unable to perform certain activities. Ankle fusion should be performed cautiously in patients who have had infections in the jointor in patients who are smokers. These patients have a high risk of developing a nonunion, a potentially significant complication.
