An ankle fusion surgery aims to join the tibia (shin bone) and fibula (calf bone) to the talus, a bone in the ankle. Typically, the ankle joint, also known as the tibiotalar joint, will be merged by using metal nails, plates and screws. Ankle fusion, or ankle arthrodesis, allows the surgeon to evaluate the articulating cartilage for additional damage to potentially remove it. This is can be done as an arthroscopic surgery that requires a small incision and arthroscope (camera) to minimize muscle loss and damage. Surgeons will evaluate the ankle joint space, and will decide which if this treatment is appropriate based on a patient’s age, injury severity and activity levels.