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Commonly known as joint fusion surgery, the arthrodesis procedure helps relieve pain from arthritis, deformity, or joint instability. Many physicians consider this procedure the gold standard for many foot and ankle conditions – but some patients have experienced significant complications after their arthrodesis procedures. In these situations, an experienced medical malpractice attorney can walk you through your legal rights and options.
What Do You Need to Know About Arthrodesis and Why Might You Need It?
During arthrodesis, your physician surgically fuses your bones together to create a single, solid bone. Surgeons often turn to this procedure to severe ankle, wrist, or spine damage or persistent pain caused by arthritis, trauma, instability, failed previous surgeries, or deformity such as a bunion deformity. In fact, many patients choose arthrodesis as an alternative to joint replacement surgery.
Despite its effectiveness for many patients, however, arthrodesis can carry both general and specific risks. For instance, as with any major surgery, patients may contract bone and soft-tissue infections, failed closing during the procedure, and accidental opening afterward. These issues require your prompt attention and medical intervention to prevent further complications.
More specific to arthrodesis, some patients may experience:
- Nonunion (failure of the bones to join together properly)
- Malunion (improper alignment of the fused bones)
- Abnormal biomechanics
- Decreased gait speed
- Degeneration of adjacent joints (leading to arthritis above or below the fusion site)
Your likelihood of complications after arthrodesis will depend on your age, general health, and lifestyle factors. For example, if you smoke, have low bone density, or live with poorly controlled diabetes, you may face higher risks of certain complications.
How Can You Identify Warning Signs of a Failed Arthrodesis?
The average time to full fusion or union following arthrodesis varies by joint location. For ankle fusion, studies indicate an average union time of four to five months; for subtalar joint fusion, expect within eight to 16 weeks.
If you have undergone an arthrodesis procedure and experience any of the following symptoms, you may have had a failed surgery:
- Experience persistent or worsening pain beyond the expected recovery period
- Visible deformity or misalignment
- Inability to bear weight after the recommended healing time
- Signs of infection including redness, warmth, drainage, or fever; new or worsening pain in joints adjacent to the fusion site
- Broken hardware, such as screws or plates
- Nerve symptoms including numbness, tingling, or burning
If you suspect complications, contact your surgeon immediately to discuss your concerns. Follow any advice they give and document all symptoms, including when they began and any changes you notice.
What Legal Rights Do You Have When Complications Occur?
Not all complications indicate malpractice. For a valid malpractice claim, you need to demonstrate that the doctors exercised improper surgical technique, gave you inadequate informed consent, or failed to diagnose and treat your complications in a timely manner.
If you have suffered harm from podiatric negligence during or after your arthrodesis surgery, you may be eligible for compensation for your resulting medical costs, loss of income, pain and suffering, disability, and loss of quality of life.
Consider consulting with an experienced attorney with experience managing podiatric malpractice cases. They can assess whether you have a viable claim, examine your podiatric records and diagnostic imaging, investigate whether the podiatrist had a history of similar negligence, communicate with opposing attorneys and insurance adjusters, and build you a strong case based on medical evidence and testimony.
Protect Your Legal Rights with Podiatric Malpractice at The Law Firm of Lawrence M. Karam, PC
If you have experienced complications after arthrodesis surgery that you believe resulted from negligence, trust The Law Firm of Lawrence M. Karam, PC, to handle your case with swiftness, professionalism, and compassion. Attorney Lawrence M. Karam has decades of experience in the legal field, a track record of successful outcomes for his clients, and in-depth, trained knowledge in the field of podiatry.
Do not suffer in silence after experiencing podiatric malpractice. Call The Law Firm of Lawrence M. Karam, PC, or fill out our online form for a free consultation today.