7 Common Foot And Ankle Surgeries
Foot and ankle concerns are prevalent because of the intricate network of muscles, joints, bones, ligaments, and tendons. If any of these structures become compromised or weakened due to overuse, injury, disease, or deformity, you should consult a foot and ankle surgeon for evaluation and treatment. Treatment choices for foot and ankle issues are determined individually, considering the root cause, daily constraints, activity goals, and foot and ankle functionality. Dr. Jordan Cameron Colorado Springs recommends conservative care options like physical therapy, orthotics, and pain medications as a first resort to address common concerns. However, if these solutions fail, your doctor can explore one of these surgical options.
Bunion Correction
The objective of bunion correction is to realign the joint at the foot of the great toe, alleviate discomfort, and restore the bones. Your surgeon might use tiny incisions to appropriately realign the tendons, ligaments, and bones. In some instances, plates or screws are used to strengthen the surgical modifications.
Bunion repair is an outpatient treatment that takes less than one hour to complete. Then, with the assistance of your physical therapist, the proper footwear, and exercises, you can get back to regular activities within a few months.
Hammer Toe Adjustment
Surgical treatment for hammertoe varies based on the extent of the problem. Typically, a minimally invasive procedure could treat a hammertoe with faster results and less discomfort. If this procedure is unsuccessful, your doctor can fuse joints or transfer tendons to straighten them. A wire or little pin holds the bones together as they recover.
Total Ankle Replacement
During ankle arthroplasty or total ankle replacement, the surgeon removes the diseased joint and substitutes it with an artificial one. The prosthetic ankle joint enables the foot to flex and pivot, alleviating pain and restoring full mobility.
Flat Foot Reconstruction
This surgery repairs the foot’s arch, enhances its alignment and alleviates pain. Your surgeon will execute multiple surgeries to fix the bones, tendons, and ligaments responsible for creating a healthy arch. This surgery might entail bone cutting, extending, or shifting soft tissues such as ligaments or tendons, and joint fusion.
Big Toe Arthritis Repair
Therapy for arthritis of the great toe (hallux rigidus) differs according to the degree of the condition. In cases of mild to moderate arthritis, your surgeon may perform a cheilectomy (bone removal) to alleviate your pain.
In cases of serious joint injury, bone fusion could be beneficial. The surgeon removes damaged cartilage throughout a bone fusion treatment before reuniting and reinforcing the two bones using screws.
Achilles Tendon Reconstruction
The largest tendon in the body is the Achilles tendon. It attaches the heel to the calf muscle. Depending on the degree of your damage, tendon repair can involve standard or minimally invasive surgery. Your surgeon cuts the procedure to eliminate the damaged tissue and restore the tendon.
Cartilage Replacement
Cartilage injury makes even the most basic of daily activities uncomfortable. Your physician can suggest grafting and/or scope debridement based on the affected joint and the degree of injury.
Foot and ankle issues are common, and most individuals will encounter them at some point in their lives. These concerns can result in discomfort, and diminished functionality. Luckily, some foot problems will heal without medical intervention. However, other concerns could necessitate conservative or surgical care for a successful recovery. Foot and ankle surgeons are well-versed in surgical procedures but will hardly suggest them before trying conservative treatments. Besides, when necessary, surgery may appear daunting, but most of these procedures are minimally invasive and have a quicker recovery time.