TTC Fusion

Tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) fusion can be a great surgery for many patients, but can be difficult to perform successfully. Some patients may not be able to heal as quickly and have severe medical problems. Diabetes, poor blood flow, neuropathy, and poor soft tissues can contribute to complications and delays in healing. TTC fusions are often reserved for patients with these severe problems where trauma, arthritis, soft tissue damage, or limb angulation are not correctable by normal means. The TTC fusion surgery is often referred to as a ‘salvage surgery’, meaning that it might be attempted in order to avoid amputation. Oftentimes, the TTC surgery will provide a limb for a patient to walk on, but the limb may not have the ability to behave in a normal manner. Functional limitations of the limb include lack of motion and sometimes patients may also already lack sensory or motor control. Despite these limitations, a TTC fusion can provide pain relief and may also provide a generally well aligned extremity for ambulation purposes in patients who otherwise may lose the ability to walk.