Surgery - Help for fusions not fusing

Question from Charlene Phillips: I have recently had my ankle totally fused by an orthopedic surgeon and the fusion is not fusing. The doctor is keeping me in a cast for another six weeks hoping it takes, but he thinks I only have a 20% chance. I was wondering if you are aware of any herbs or vitamins that may possibly help the fusion.

Answer from Dr. Robert Sampson, an orthopedic surgeon who has CMT: There are no herbs or vitamins that seem to hasten or force a fusion. Since protein synthesis is what takes place in the fusion, some folks advocate vitamin C as helpful. In people who have terrible diets, I have truly seen miracles when they start taking something as simple as multi-vitamins. Smoking is a definite deterrent to a fusion, so if Charlene smokes she should stop until the fusion heals. One non-invasive way to force the fusion is to have her doctor get her an ultrasonic or pulsed electric bone growth stimulator. Either system requires a doctor's prescription, and both have about an 80% success rate which is about as good as a repeat surgery. Failure to fuse is about 10-20% of the cases nationwide. A fusion can usually be achieved through repeat surgery, a graft, use of a bone growth stimulator or a combination of all three. (Magnets do not seem to work.)