Re: Ankle Fusion vs Replacement

November 18, 2005

Sharon, did you ask your surgeon why he had the sudden change of heart?

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Ankle Fusion vs Replacement

> Here's a strange story. Went to my surgeon yesterday to schedule

> surgery--the first of two surgeries to complete an ankle replacement.

> My rheumy had been gently against replacements, saying they';re jsust

> not perfected yet, but the surgeon was confidently pushing for it,

> right up till 6 months ago, when he said he had had no failures in 8

> years. Then, lo and behold yesterday he's talking fusion and

> DOWNTALKING replacements. So I'll be having an ankle fused soon, and

> he's acting as if I have no reason to concern myself with replacements

> at all.

>

> My husband wondered if he's being sued over one or if something has

> happened. Even the doc said that proctices that had untul recently

> been doing 1,000 replacements a year are now doing only 30! Anyone

> know anything about this?

>

> Also, any advice from folks who've had ankle fusions? Can you get

> both ankles fused?

>

> Sharon

November 18, 2005

I did ask why he seemed to be pushing replacements before and not now

(curious if my foot had changed and made a replacement out of the

question) and he just gave a generic response -- " Oh, the success rate

just isn't that great, etc etc. Very surprising. Then when my

husband asked why they do them if they're not so successful, and he

said, " Oh, the companies aren't making as much on knee and hip

replacement hardware so they have to introduce new product! Later I

asked my if the doctor had really said that.

It seems though that whatever brought on this change of heart was not

something he was going to share.

I bet my rheumatologist, who was against it, won't be the least bit

surprised. But I sure was.

Sharon

--- In , " " <Matsumura_Clan@m...>

wrote:

>

> Sharon, did you ask your surgeon why he had the sudden change of heart?

>

> Not an MD

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

>

> [ ] Ankle Fusion vs Replacement

>

> > Here's a strange story. Went to my surgeon yesterday to schedule

> > surgery--the first of two surgeries to complete an ankle replacement.

> > My rheumy had been gently against replacements, saying they';re jsust

> > not perfected yet, but the surgeon was confidently pushing for it,

> > right up till 6 months ago, when he said he had had no failures in 8

> > years. Then, lo and behold yesterday he's talking fusion and

> > DOWNTALKING replacements. So I'll be having an ankle fused soon, and

> > he's acting as if I have no reason to concern myself with replacements

> > at all.

> >

> > My husband wondered if he's being sued over one or if something has

> > happened. Even the doc said that proctices that had untul recently

> > been doing 1,000 replacements a year are now doing only 30! Anyone

> > know anything about this?

> >

> > Also, any advice from folks who've had ankle fusions? Can you get

> > both ankles fused?

> >

> > Sharon

>

November 18, 2005

Sharon, in my big city of Toronto there is only one ortho that will attempt

ankle replacements so that tells me something. I am getting massage therapy

combined with acupuncture to buy me time but will have to have the fusion in the

near future. The fusion I had done 4 years ago on my other ankle was the best

thing I ever done since I have been pain free ever since. Even if I chose to

wait for the ortho for a replacement I would be looking at a wait of 1-2 years.

Hugs

June

----- Original Message -----

From: sharonmacd

Here's a strange story. Went to my surgeon yesterday to schedule

surgery--the first of two surgeries to complete an ankle replacement.

My rheumy had been gently against replacements, saying they';re jsust

not perfected yet, but the surgeon was confidently pushing for it,

right up till 6 months ago, when he said he had had no failures in 8

years. Then, lo and behold yesterday he's talking fusion and

DOWNTALKING replacements. So I'll be having an ankle fused soon, and

he's acting as if I have no reason to concern myself with replacements

at all.

My husband wondered if he's being sued over one or if something has

happened. Even the doc said that proctices that had untul recently

been doing 1,000 replacements a year are now doing only 30! Anyone

know anything about this?

Also, any advice from folks who've had ankle fusions? Can you get

both ankles fused?

Sharon

November 18, 2005

Hi Sharon,

Both of my ankles have been fused in the process of doing other work

on my feet. The date of my first fusion was the same day an article

was in the paper

about a successful replacement being done at one of Chicago's great

hospitals. My surgeon had been involved with some of the initial

trials but hadn't bothered to even talk with me about the

availability. To shorten this story...it was only about 3 months

later that he did the other ankle. After getting the cast off, I

found I could not stand without bending my knees a bit. I was

finally told by my rheumy that I needed " rocker " soles put on my

shoes. While they helped, I was & have been following fairly

regularly. It's been at least 3 years now.

About a year ago I developed a severe infection on the bottom of one

foot. I was at a different hospital & the doc who cared for me

said, " I see that Dr Holmes fused the ankles with your forefoot

flexed. I then found out he shouldn't have done that! I was so

angry I wanted to sue but the statute of limitations was over.

I have since met others with fusions who walk without difficulty. I

guess what I'm saying is ask your doc if any of his patients need

rocker shoes after fushion. IF most are OK--I'd say go for it.

Lori in IL

-- In , " sharonmacd " <omoshiroi@s...>

wrote:

>

> Here's a strange story. Went to my surgeon yesterday to schedule

> surgery--the first of two surgeries to complete an ankle

replacement.

> My rheumy had been gently against replacements, saying they';re

jsust

> not perfected yet, but the surgeon was confidently pushing for it,

> right up till 6 months ago, when he said he had had no failures in

8

> years. Then, lo and behold yesterday he's talking fusion and

> DOWNTALKING replacements. So I'll be having an ankle fused soon,

and

> he's acting as if I have no reason to concern myself with

replacements

> at all.

>

> My husband wondered if he's being sued over one or if something has

> happened. Even the doc said that proctices that had untul recently

> been doing 1,000 replacements a year are now doing only 30! Anyone

> know anything about this?

>

> Also, any advice from folks who've had ankle fusions? Can you get

> both ankles fused?

>

> Sharon

>

November 18, 2005

Hi June,

That's great news! Now, is it possible to have both ankles fused? I

think I'll be there too.

Sharon

>

> Sharon, in my big city of Toronto there is only one ortho that will

attempt ankle replacements so that tells me something. I am getting

massage therapy combined with acupuncture to buy me time but will have

to have the fusion in the near future. The fusion I had done 4 years

ago on my other ankle was the best thing I ever done since I have been

pain free ever since. Even if I chose to wait for the ortho for a

replacement I would be looking at a wait of 1-2 years.

>

> Hugs

> June

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: sharonmacd