Skip to Main Content
Care calculator »  ankle fusion surgery »

What is ankle fusion surgery?

Ankle fusion surgery is also known as “ankle arthrodesis.” This is the medical term for locking a joint in place by anchoring the bones on both sides of the joint together. Orthopedic surgeons perform ankle fusions for conditions that make it difficult to walk because of pain in the ankle or loss of function of the ankle. 

Several conditions can cause severe pain in the ankle and lead to disability due to the severity of pain alone. Ankle fusion surgery can eliminate this pain. The most common painful conditions treated with ankle fusion surgery are:

  • Severe rheumatoid or osteoarthritis
  • Repeated severe ankle sprains
  • Severe trauma

Other conditions may not be painful but may make it difficult to walk. The most common conditions that lead to difficulty walking and can be treated with ankle fusion surgery are:

  • Congenital abnormalities of the ankle
  • Foot drop

Is ankle fusion surgery painful?

How long does it take to recover from ankle fusion surgery?

Can you walk normally after an ankle fusion?

Can you drive a car after an ankle fusion?

What shoes can you wear after an ankle fusion?

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.