What are foot and ankle treatments?
Foot and ankle treatments are surgeries and procedures to treat several conditions and injuries affecting the feet and ankles. The foot and ankle is a complex area containing bones, ligaments, tendons, nerves and muscles. Amazingly, these components come together to form 33 joints. Treating problems with any of these structures can involve ankle, foot or toe surgery.
Common types of foot and ankle treatments include :
Ankle arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical method of diagnosing and treating many ankle symptoms and problems from torn or weak ligaments to fractures.
Ankle replacement surgery
Foot and ankle fracture and dislocation treatment
Foot and ankle ligament and tendon reconstruction including Achilles tendon surgery
Why are surgical foot and ankle treatments performed?
For some conditions, a foot specialist—a podiatrist—will first try to resolve the problem with nonsurgical foot and ankle treatments, such as a course of physical therapy. When nonsurgical foot and ankle pain treatments aren’t enough, your doctor may recommend surgery to relieve pain. Surgery is also necessary to correct physical problems with any of the foot or ankle structures. The general treatment goals are to improve ankle or foot function, reduce disability, and improve your quality of life.
Common foot and ankle conditions that may require surgery include :
Acute injuries including fractures, dislocations, torn cartilage, and ligament or tendon tears
Bone spurs
Degenerative joint disease including arthritis
Inflammatory forms of arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis
Overuse injuries including plantar fasciitis
Synovitis, which is inflammation of the lining of the joint
Unexplained ankle or foot symptoms including pain; foot and ankle swelling; and joint locking, catching or grinding