Foot, Ankle and Lower Leg
Conditions
- Accessory Navicular
- Achilles Tendon Injuries
- Adult Acquired Flatfoot
- Ankle Sprains
- Bunionette Deformity (Tailor's Bunion)
- Bunions
- Cavus Foot (High-Arched Foot)
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)
- Charcot’s Neuroarthropathy (CN)
- Chronic Lateral Ankle Pain
- Claw Toe
- Clubfoot (Talipes Equinovarus)
- Fracture of the Heel Bone (Calcaneus)
- Fracture of the Talus
- Gout
- Haglund's Deformity (Retrocalcaneal Bursitis)
- Hallux Rigidus (Stiff Big Toe)
- Hammer Toe
- High Ankle Sprain (Syndesmosis Ligament Injury)
- Jones Fractures
- LisFranc (Midfoot) Fracture-Dislocation
- Metatarsalgia
- Morton's Neuroma
- MTP Synovitis (Capsulitis)
- Muscle Strain of the Calf (Gastrocnemius / Soleus Strain)
- Navicular Stress Fracture
- Osteochondral Injuries of the Talus
- Osteomyelitis
- Peroneal Tendonitis
- Peroneal Tendon Tears
- Pilon Fractures
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Foot and Ankle (Arthritis Foundation Approved)
- Sesamoiditis
- Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (Posterior Tibial Neuralgia)
- Tibial Fractures
Procedures
- Achilles Tendon Lengthening
- Amniotic and Placental Graft Tissue for Surgery and Wound Care
- Anesthesia (Conscious Sedation)
- Anesthesia (General)
- Anesthesia (Local)
- Anesthesia (Monitored Anesthesia Care, MAC)
- Anesthesia (Overview)
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fusion, Transfibular
- Ankle Replacement
- Arthroscopic Articular Cartilage Repair (Ankle)
- Arthrosurface® HemiCAP® Resurfacing for the Great Toe
- Bunion Correction with Scarf and Akin Osteotomy
- Bunionectomy (Chevron Bunionectomy)
- Bunionectomy With Wedge Osteotomy
- Bunionette Deformity Correction (Distal Fifth Metatarsal Osteotomy)
- Bunionette Deformity Correction (Fifth Metatarsal Partial Head Resection)
- Bunionette Deformity Correction (Overview)
- Calcaneal Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
- Calcaneal Sliding Osteotomy (with Lateral Plate Fixation)
- Calcaneal Tongue-Type Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
- Cartilage Repair, Arthroscopically-Assisted Technique (Zimmer® DeNovo® NT Natural Tissue Graft)
- Cartilage Repair, Open Incision Technique (Zimmer® DeNovo® NT Natural Tissue Graft)
- Charcot Foot Treatment Options
- Cheilectomy
- Debridement of the Achilles Tendon
- Excision of Mortons Neuromas
- Excision of Soft Tissue Masses
- First Metatarsal-phalangeal Joint (MTP) Arthrodesis
- First Metatarsal-phalangeal (MTP) Total Joint Replacement (MOVEMENT™)
- First MTP Joint Fusion (Locking Plate)
- First MTP Joint Replacement, Partial (Proximal Phalangeal Base)
- Fixation for LisFranc Injury
- Gastrocnemius Recession (Endoscopic Approach)
- Gastrocnemius Recession (Intramuscular Approach)
- Hammertoe Correction (PIP Joint Arthroplasty)
- Jones Fracture Fixation (Intramedullary Screw)
- Jones Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
- Lapidus Arthrodesis (with Medial Plate Fixation)
- Lapidus Procedure for Bunion Correction
- Lateral Ankle Ligament Reconstruction
- Lateral Column Lengthening (Evans Osteotomy) for Adult Acquired Flatfoot
- LisFranc Ligament Repair (Suture Button Technique)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Mallet Toe Correction (DIP Joint Arthroplasty)
- Metatarsal Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
- Metatarsal Head Resurfacing with Collagen Interpositional Grafting
- Midfoot Fusion
- Minimal Incision Toe Bone Spur Removal
- Plantar Fascia Release (Open Technique)
- Resection of Haglunds Deformity
- Surgery for Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Talar Fracture Fixation (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation)
- Tarsal Tunnel Decompression
- Tendon Repair (Augmentation with Collagen Graft)
- Tendon Transfer (FHL to Achilles)
- Tendon Transfer for Hammertoe (FDL tendon transfer)
- Tibiotalocalcaneal Fusion (with Intramedullary Rod)
- Triple Arthrodesis
- Weil Osteotomy for Claw Toe
Tibiotalocalcaneal Fusion (with Intramedullary Rod)
Overview
This surgical procedure fuses your ankle joint with a rod commonly called a "nail." It passes through the bones of your foot and lower leg. This type of fusion can be helpful if you have severe arthritis or other serious problems with your ankle. It may also be needed if you have had a total ankle replacement that has failed.
Preparation
In preparation for the procedure, you are anesthetized. The surgeon creates one or two incisions in the skin to access the ankle. The end of the fibula (the thin bone of your lower leg) may be removed. The surgeon reshapes the tibia, talus and calcaneus, removing cartilage from the ends of these bones. This will help these bones fuse together. If the bones in your ankle have deteriorated, the surgeon may use a specially-prepared bone graft to fill in the spaces between the bones to help ensure proper fusion.
Inserting the Rod
A guide wire is inserted through the bottom of the calcaneus. The surgeon drills a tunnel up through this bone, through the talus and into the tibia. The rod is placed through this tunnel, locking these bones together. The rod is secured with a series of screws placed through additional tunnels.
End of Procedure and Aftercare
When the procedure is complete, the openings are closed and your foot is bandaged. Your foot may be placed in a splint, cast or boot. Initially, you will not be allowed to bear weight on the ankle. After several weeks, you may begin physical therapy. A modified shoe can help you walk more comfortably as you return to normal activity.
