Ankle Fusion vs Replacement

[Guest guest]

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