It can take up to six months for you to get a better recovery result, but it may take up to 18 months for full healing. In some cases, the ankle fusion may fail.

What if the procedure is not performed?

If you have ankle arthritis that requires surgery, chances are the problem is severe enough to interfere greatly with your daily life. Without treatment, you will continue to experience pain and have trouble moving around and performing normal activities.

Ankle arthrodesis is the preferred treatment for arthritis of the ankle joint, but as time goes on, artificial ankle joints are being produced that more closely mimic the natural movement of the ankle than ever before. Unfortunately, studies have shown that artificial ankles wear out quickly, leading to complications and more surgeries.