What is Foot and Ankle Surgery?
Foot and ankle surgery is a sub-specialty of orthopedics and podiatry that deals with the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of foot and ankle disorders. Foot and ankle surgery become necessary after the foot, and ankle injuries cannot be healed with conventional medicine.
Who Needs Foot and Ankle Surgery?
There are many reasons for which a person may require foot and ankle surgery. Some common ones include:
- An individual has broken one or multiple bones in their foot and ankle. The fracture is a compound fracture that requires screws, rods, or bolts that needs to be placed in the bone to stabilize them.
- An individual has arthritis, which has damaged the joints in the foot and ankle. A complete or partial replacement of these joints may require surgery.
- An individual has damaged their soft tissues, i-e., muscles, tendons, and ligaments. They will need surgery to repair or reconstruct the soft tissues.
- An individual is suffering from inflammation in the foot and ankle bursa and may require corrective surgery.
How is Foot and Ankle Surgery Performed?
Every foot and ankle surgery has its procedure. However, steps which are common in all ankle and foot surgeries are:
- A local or general anesthesia is administered to the patient.
- An incision is made in the targeted area. In minimally invasive procedures, 1-2-inch-long incisions (usually two) are made. Whereas, in an open surgical procedure, an incision is generally more than 3 inches long.
- The surgeon repairs, reconstructs, replaces, or fuses the affected area in the ankle.
- The surgeon closes the incision with sutures and applies a bandage.
After the surgery, the patient is kept under observation to dismiss the risk of complications. In minimally invasive procedures, a patient may be hospitalized for 1-3 hours. In open surgical procedures, the duration is 24 hours.
If you are suffering from persistent foot or ankle pain, schedule an appointment today!
FAQ’S
What Are Different Types of Foot Surgery?
The most common type of foot and ankle surgeries include:
- Metatarsal surgery of the foot.
- Bunion surgery of the foot.
- Hammertoe surgery of the foot.
- Plantar fasciitis surgery of the foot.
- Ankle surgery.
How Do I Know If I Need Foot or Ankle Surgery?
If you are facing any of the below-mentioned symptoms, then it is an indication that you may need a foot or an ankle surgery:
- Persistent pain may get worse over time.
- Slight or sharp pain during or after exercise.
- You are facing mobility issues.
- Prescribed medications are not proving useful.
- You are suffering from severe joint stiffness.
Do They Put You to Sleep for Foot Surgery?
- In the case of anesthetic foot surgeries, local anesthesia is given to patients in combination with IV sedation.
- While in the case of foot surgeries with general anesthesia, the patient is given medications to sleep during the surgical procedure.
How Long Is Foot Surgery?
- It may take almost one hour to perform this surgical procedure.
- In case of a severe traumatic injury, the surgical procedure may take about 3-4 hours.
