For patients who have foot and ankle issues that are not responding well to conservative treatments, your doctor may recommend foot surgery. Sometimes surgery is the only way to achieve long-lasting relief from persistent, disabling symptoms.
The goal of foot surgery is not just to relieve chronic pain, but also to restore normal foot and ankle function. Let’s take a look at some of the most frequently performed types of foot surgery and who you can talk to about what might work for you:
Achilles Tendon Repair
When the thick tendon that connects the back of the heel to the calf muscles is torn, surgery is often necessary to properly reconnect the torn ends back together. The ends of the Achilles tendon may naturally reconnect without surgery, but nonsurgical treatment often results in the injury occurring again and a slower recovery. This is why athletes usually opt for surgery to repair this injury.
Fusion Surgery
When a joint has extensive damage and is causing chronic pain, fusion surgery may be recommended. The pain is usually caused by bone-on-bone scraping during movement, as the protective tissues and other elements are degraded and are therefore no longer working properly.
This type of foot surgery is performed to remove the remaining cartilage and to permanently join (fuse) the adjacent bone tissues together. This is done using plates and screws to enable the natural fusion process, which will prevent the movement that is causing pain and other symptoms.
Foot Fracture Surgery
While simple foot fractures may heal on their own, complex fractures require surgery. Surgeries to address foot fractures have a high success rate.
Metatarsal Surgery
Your foot and ankle specialist may recommend metatarsal surgery to repair bunions, rheumatoid arthritis, or another issue that is causing deformity in the foot. The procedure involves cutting the metatarsal bone, repositioning it, and fastening it in place using metal pins, plates, or screws.
Morton’s Neuroma Surgery
Morton’s neuroma is a condition that causes pain in the toes and the ball of the foot where a mass of tissue has grown around a nerve. The surgeon will decompress the nerve or to remove the inflamed nerve altogether, thereby relieving the debilitating, burning pain.
Toe Deformity Correction Surgery
Severe corns, calluses, bunions, and hammertoes can disfigure the feet. A deformed toe causes pain and discomfort, and it increases your risk of falls and other injury-causing accidents. Surgical treatment can be performed to straighten out and reposition the toes so that you can walk properly and without pain.
Reconstructive Surgery
A foot deformity can affect balance and gait, and this should be addressed with reconstructive surgery. Patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or a severe injury may require this type of foot surgery.
Foot Surgeons in Central Maryland
Our foot and ankle specialists at the Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland are board-certified and fellowship-trained to treat the full range of foot and ankle problems. We have everything here on-site, so you only need to go to one place to receive comprehensive treatment for musculoskeletal issues.
Let us help you get back the normal function, strength, and flexibility of your feet. To request an appointment, call the Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland today at (410) 644-1880 or (855) 4MD-BONE (463-2663), or fill out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to serving you.
