As a podiatrist who has more than a dozen years of experience, not a single day is passed that I’m asking about foot operations. I’ll get asked to provide advice on whether Jenny’s mother should “get her bunions done”. Or if I believe that Tony should undergo surgery on the soles of his “flat feet”.
Important to note. The information provided is generic in its nature. It’s not tailored to your needs. You’ll have to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist, like the wonderful team at PridePlus Health.
The 8 Most Common Types of Foot and Ankle Surgery
There are numerous choices and subtypes in foot surgical procedures. For instance, there are more than 10 surgical procedures available to treat bunions. We’ll cover a wide range of typical types of foot surgery.
Bunion Surgery
Bunions are near my heart, as well as my feet. The hardest working joint in the lower limb that of the large toe joint may quickly develop a bunion. This is when the big toe begins to curve towards the 2nd toe, and then a lump develops over the joint of the large toe.
Because bunions are much more complex than the lump that you feel on your feet The various surgeries for them can be a bit different. The most important thing to think about prior to undergoing bunion surgery is. Since your big toe is the most difficult-moving joint of the human body, so what will happen when the procedure is completed? Will you be able to relocate the joint? Are you able to take on the joint? What are you planning to be able to perform following bunion surgery?
The place where podiatrists observe and hear the voices of patients who are unhappy with the outcome of their bunion surgery is when the question is not being addressed prior to the procedure.
Since the joint is an intensely working part of our bodies, as well as because there are tiny bones surrounding the toe joint, replacing it isn’t a feasible alternative. The procedures that provide an excellent cosmetic outcome are simple (as foot surgery is concerned). Procedures that permit complex operation and loading post-surgery are more difficult and your surgeon has to be clear about their expectations regarding your foot, as well.
Plantar Fasciitis Surgery
Plantar fasciitis is the most frequently occurring foot injury that is caused by musculoskeletal injuries. It’s a condition that can be easily and easily treated using active measures. The strengthening of orthotics, footwear, and other treatments have proven to be successful in treating the majority of instances of plantar fasciitis.
However, there are always outliers.
A few people suffering from plantar fasciitis are not able to respond to active treatment, and surgery may be needed. The number of people who need surgery is small, and personally, I’ve only heard of one person within the last 10+ years who needed surgery.
The surgical procedures that treat this severe chronic, recalcitrant, and chronic plantar fasciitis typically require the lengthening of the plantar fascia. If you suffer from plantar fibromas, which may appear quite similar to the symptoms of plantar fasciitis, the resolution is much easier when the lesions with thick walls are removed away.
Hammertoe Surgery
A very popular procedure is surgery that is used to enhance cosmesis and comfort, and to protect legs. Hammertoes are toes that stand higher and be a nuisance to the tops or the soles of shoes. For some, wearing stylish shoes can be extremely painful. However, for others, it could lead to painful calluses and corn. And for those suffering from blood circulation issues or diabetes, they could cause ulceration and even amputation.
The options for surgery for hammertoes could be as straightforward as tendon release procedures in which local anesthetics are used to cut off a toe tendon that allows the toes to be able to sit back flat. This may result in weaker toes and possible balance issues, however.
Ankle Fusion Surgery
There’s no turning to a knee fusion. If you think about how much load and movement occurs in the joint of your ankle in the three directions (your ankle moves upwards, downwards, in out, and even twists! ) A fusion is needed to limit the amount of movement can be quite drastic.
But injuries that are serious require extreme measures, such as ankle surgery.
Complex and chronic arthritis in the rearfoot could require an ankle joint. Also, injuries that are traumatic like those that result from falling from a height, or during motor vehicle accidents. Although not as prevalent as knee replacement surgery ankle joint replacements have been becoming more commonplace in recent years.
Morton’s Neuroma Surgery
Morton’s Neuroma is when the sheath surrounding the nerve which runs between the metatarsal long bones inside the foot becomes too thick. It happens when there is constant tension on the nerve. It is usually due to an imbalance in the metatarsals that causes them to be pushed past and against one another or due to tight shoes.
The procedure for Morton’s Neuroma is usually a neurectomy in which the nerve is removed. Because there’s not likely to be joint or bone involvement, the healing, while affected, is much faster than other foot surgery. When the nerve is removed, there may be numbness or loss of sensation in the toes following the procedure.
Ingrown Toenail Surgery
Ah, my absolute favorite. An ingrown toenail procedure is among the most satisfying and relaxing procedures performed by a podiatrist.
If you’ve ever experienced an ingrown nail They can be very, extremely painful. They are often recurring over a long period of time also.
The most common procedure used to treat toenails that have grown is referred to as partial nail avulsion. General practitioners, podiatric surgeons general surgeons, and podiatric surgeons in Perth are all able to perform the procedure in a similar manner.
Flat Foot Surgery
A person who has a flat foot as an adult is also known as the tibialis posterior tendon disorder (stage 4.) and cannot be mistaken for “having a flat foot”.
We all have a flat foot especially if we’re self-diagnosing! The flat foot is typically extremely healthy and is excellent at absorbing shock and adjusting to changing conditions.
Surgery is usually required for the serious adult-acquired flatfoot deformity. This is when the foot’s arch is reduced due to the loss of tendons, muscles, and ligaments.
It’s a major surgery to repair a serious injury.
Foot Surgery for Arthritis
Athritis in foot joints is about as common as arthritis could get. Many of us will have signs of arthritis (not necessarily in the form of discomfort) in the early years of our adulthood.
If you suffer from severe forms of arthritis that cause severe pain and a decrease in functionality, there could be various surgical options for foot that we can discuss. Internal fixation for stabilizing joints that are arthritic is popular. This is the same as “bone work” where your foot surgeon can remove additional bone lumps which can be referred to as osteophytes.
Who Performs Foot Surgery In Australia
There are two areas of surgery that perform complicated foot surgery involving joints and bone in Australia. For foot surgery that is less complicated and only requires nails and skin, podiatrists are included.
Podiatric Surgeons
The podiatry surgical pathway is among the strictest surgery education paths in Australia. To become a podiatric surgeon, you first have to be a podiatrist and must complete between 4 and 5 years of training in undergraduate. The next step is to be admitted to the Fellowship of Australian Podiatric Surgeons which requires an intensive training program lasting longer than 7 years.
The majority of podiatric surgeons from Australia have a large portion of their education in the USA as well as in Europe which has more possibilities than there are in Australia. The field of podiatric surgery is relatively new in Australia and does not have the same amount of public funding as there is for orthopedics.
Orthopedic Surgeons
Orthopedic surgeons are from the medical field before transitioning into orthopedics. There are more orthopedic doctors than podiatric physicians in Australia and education is much more prevalent within the private and public healthcare sectors.
The majority of orthopedic doctors specialize in feet, and you’ll notice that the majority of patients have better results after seeing an orthopaedic specialist who is specialized in feet.
Podiatrists
Okay, we aren’t here to assist you with the needs of reconstructive surgery. However, we are able to provide surgical treatments for skin and nail pathologies. Warts, ingrown toenails and other skin lesions such as epidydimal cysts fall within the reach the podiatrist’s expertise.
A podiatrist that specializes on the high risk Foot Sharp surgical debridement may be a procedure that is needed for the management of ulcers.
While not all podiatrists can be described as podiatric surgeons, each podiatric surgeon is one in the way they train. This means there are many top podiatric surgeon who can perform ingrown toenails and skin treatments. However, you won’t (or should not) locate a sole podiatrist doing invasive foot surgery, or playing using a bone graft.
How To Choose A Foot Surgeon
Before you decide who is going to apply the scalpel off your feet, be sure to ask yourself some crucial questions. After you’ve considered these, ensure that you bring an outline of your concerns for your consultations with your surgeon to make sure that the surgeon’s expectations are in line.
- Do I know what’s wrong? And why am I looking for this surgery on my feet?
- Have I completed proactive treatment methods with low risks prior to looking into the surgery?
- What are the activities I can expect to undertake following foot surgery?
- 1 month following the date of
- 3 months after
- 6 months after
- 12 months after
- How long will I need to remain immobilised after my foot procedure?
- Who can help me in my everyday chores? What is my best way to commute?
- Where will I complete my post-surgical rehab?
- What kind of shoes should I wear after surgery? What kind of orthotics?
If I can, I’ll suggest that clients take a couple of advice from trusted and reputable surgeons. Be aware of both the benefits and drawbacks to orthopaedic and podiatric surgery options. The pre-surgery consultation is the time to receive reliable responses to the questions.
These questions shouldn’t be a cause of concern. The foot isn’t something you can do lightly. Consider each time you step, ideally there are 10,000 of them each day. Imagine that you’ve undergone an operation that is likely to change your life completely. Every step you take for the next month will be taken in a new footwear or moonboot. You’ll have to complete physical therapy to restore mobility and function. For a few weeks following surgery, you might be restricted to showering or moving about with a cast.
Be mindful of your feet as well as the requirements you put on them by recognizing that your foot surgery may not be done when you get up from anaesthetic. Most individuals, it’s when the return to normal begins.
More complicated surgical procedures that require joint arthroplasty or bone work are necessary when the hammertoe is solid and stable.
