Has anyone had knee arthrodesis (fused knee) surgery done?

I'm so sorry Blue. I'm 69 and had both knees replaced in 2022 and am doing fine, but what you describe is scary. How do you manage with a rod from hip to ankle?

All the best to you, and again, so sorry about this. Joe

I had a knee replacement done in October 2019 and within less than a month my tendon tore from getting up out of a chair. The doctor weakened my tendon during knee replacement. Three months later my doctor replaced my tendon with a donor tendon and knee cap. My knee got infected a month and a half later. I told the doctor on two visits it is infected, and he said no it is not. The third visit the doctor said it is infected and he sent me to another orthopedic doctor to have my knee washed out and replaced with a spacer plus two more spacers in 2020 and 2021. When it was infected, it damaged my tissue on my knee joint and then I had surgery done to put tissue back on my joint. The second orthopedic doctor sent me to a third orthopedic doctor to fuse my left knee in August 2021. The doctor should have waited until all the infection was gone to give me a new knee replacement. I always told the doctor I want a new knee replacement, and he told me there is zero chance to have one. I cannot bend my knee, and I also have a rod in my left leg from my thigh to my ankle. It is hard to do my chores because I have to watch every step I make. The doctor told me I could walk on my own without a walker and cane, but this is not true. It is not easy to walk or sit with a left leg that does not bend. Is there anyone out there that has had a similar situation that can help me? Is there anyone out there that had their knee fused and then later had it reversed with a knee replacement? Does anyone know an orthopedic doctor in Houston, TX that can reverse a fused knee with a knee replacement?

I’m so sorry for your loss. I am trying to make a decision for a fusion or a knee replacement for the third time. Doctor say it will take 4months to heal when he take out then he will put the new knee in. He has to build up the knew with cadaver bone and other stuff but it might not work. So all that work, pain, ,
time in bed because when I have the knee out I have to lay until it completely heals ab then he puts in the replacement. Or I can have it fused or amputated.
3 options and not very good ones.
It sure helped me to read your post. Pleased keep me informed of your journey. Lie me know if you find a doctor that can help you. My prayers are with you.
Michelle Mullen
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Hello @blue45, I combined your new knee fusion discussion with your previous discussion titled, "Has anyone had knee arthrodesis (fused knee) surgery done?" - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/has-anyone-had-knee-arthrodesis-fused-knee-surgery-done/.

I'd like to also invite @lynettegable and @jasonh6 who have also discussed a fused knee on Mayo Clinic Connect. It looks like @michellemu1992 is also facing a decision on whether or not to have a knee fusion as well. @fred811 also posed the question on whether or not a knee fusion is reversible, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/knee-fusion-reversal/, where @ralph1 talked about a reversal of their knee fusion.

Hi I am having a revision surgery one of the things my doctor said was if they find a deep infection when they go in I might come out with a fused knee depending on bone loss what are the pros and cons of a fused knee thank you

Hello @smallfry. I moved your discussion into an existing discussion titled, "Has anyone had knee arthrodesis (fused knee) surgery done?" - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/has-anyone-had-knee-arthrodesis-fused-knee-surgery-done/.

Here, you can meet @blue45 and @michellemu1992 who talked about circumstances similar to yours.

@smallfry, was this possibility discussed as a likely scenario or just a precaution to be aware of? Is there a worry about infection?

I also had a revision of my left knee in 2003. Everything went great. The reason why they want to fuse it now is I need another knee that would be the third one and they said there isn’t enough bone there to create or put in another knee so we can try to put a knee in, but it might not work so the next thing to do is to fuse it or amputate it. What an option so I haven’t done anything yet. I’m still thinking about it. My primary doctor said if you don’t have any pain, why have surgery but the doctor said I have a lot of bone loss and it might break , they’re worried about breakage . I don’t know what to do. I also have neuropathy in feet and legs and hands. I don’t feel much pain so we’ll see. They said if it’s really bad when they get in there, they confuse it sounds like blue is having a hard time getting around with her fuse knee and that’s what I was thinking about, how to get around please let me know if you have anything to say about fusion thank you

I’m facing the choice of a fusion or amputation, due to MRSA and other infections in my knee. I have lost too much bone to even do a revision. As I had to keep my knee perfectly straight for a month. I fully under the difficulties in living without being able to bend.
I would love to hear from anyone else who has had the fusion. Any details on recovery, rehabilitation, etc are appreciated.

Hello @yamevoy,

That is a tough decision. I have a fusion, with a rod going through my bones from hip to ankle. It's been like that since December 2019 when my infected knee joint was removed. I had several more infections, discouraging doctors from wanting to do a knee revision now. I'm still hopeful I can get one down the road. I hate life with this leg that doesn't bend. Everything admit life is hard. And I'm so sick of it. It's a struggle to get up from the toilet, my bed, any other chair especially those without arms on them. Getting into a car is very hard if trying to sit in the front seats. My right leg is fused so I have a left foot accelerator so I can drive. When riding with someone I often sit on the second row bench seat so I can stretch my leg out. Then it's really hard to get a seatbelt on because of the angle I'm sitting at. Steps are very hard. My left leg has severe arthritis so it's very painful. So I walk with a cane. I went on disability because holding down a job is hard even when working remotely. But I also have lymphedema in my same leg. Lately, it's driving me crazy to not be able to bend my leg. Ive lost nearly all the activities I enjoy. I can't go hiking anymore. I doubt I can ride a horse though, funny thing, Chester on the old western Gunsmoke acts like his knee is stuck straight and won't bend. He is able to ride a horse. Though he weighs half of what I weigh I'm sure. Ive wondered if an amputation would be better. Then I could at least bend my knee. But that decision has its own set of problems. And a doctor at Mayo said he couldn't imagine having an amputation when my leg isn't infected. So, I don't know. I met with Dr. Bedard at Mayo to discuss my options with having a revision. He told me the many risks there would be, like getting infected again. He wasn't sure he could offer the new surgery he does that involves using mesh with the tendon repair. I think a lot about taking my chances at having the surgery done. Some bend would be better than none. Another doctor, Dr Finn in Chicago also does a surgery to restore a bending knee.

I don't know which option would be best for you. Just get all the information you can about each option. Let me know if you have any questions.

Best of luck tovyou.

Thank you so much for your reply. This was exactly the type of input I needed, as none of the surgeons or medical professionals experience what the patient does.

Everything you describe is exactly what I imagined, so that the thought of the orthodesis was no better than living with an open wound that won’t heal.

Unfortunately, I have lost too much bone to consider a revision. The last ortho I saw, who trained at Cleveland Clinic and specializes in infections in knee devices, told me that even the orthodesis would not work, because my right leg would be 10 inches shorter than the left. Can you imagine trying to walk under that circumstance?
After thinking about the issues with the straight leg scenario for several months, when the orthopedic told me my only option was amputation, I was relieved. Sounds crazy, I know, but I have something to work toward. Healing and getting used to a prosthesis will take time, but at least I will be able to go on a hike and get on an airplane. I haven’t yet had the first consultation with the KU orthopedist who will do the surgery, so I don’t know exactly what to expect, but I’ve had enough time to think about it now.

Good luck on whatever steps you take.