What are Eight Common Types of Foot Surgery?

Your feet bear the weight of your body and imagine what will be your plight if suddenly your feet become motionless? Even the thought of this is scary, let alone living with it. Be it a fracture, ligament tear, or major surgery, the trauma a patient goes through is tough to describe. 

Eight common types of foot surgery are:

1. Metatarsal foot surgery: The comfort and ease with which you walk are because of the metatarsal bones which are found between the phalanges of the toes and tarsal bones. The discomfort arises when the metatarsophalangeal joints become inflamed, and walking becomes a challenge. Metatarsal foot surgery involves removing the heads of the small joints in the forefoot.

 

2. Bunions foot surgery: Hallux valgus results in bony lumps at the base of the big toe resulting in deformation of the big toe and making it bend towards the other toes. Bunions can be corrected with osteotomy which is not a complicated process.

 

3. Hammertoe foot surgery: Hammertoe is a result of hallux valgus. In this, the toes are permanently bent and this can result in deformed or clawed toes. Arthroplasty or arthrodesis helps in repairing hammertoe.

 

4.  Plantar fasciitis foot surgery: When the tissue from the heel to the toe where it joins the heel becomes inflamed, the resulting condition results in plantar fasciitis. In the surgery to rectify the problem, the ligament is released from the heel bone so that new growth in the fascia is possible and any kind of tension is removed.

 

5. Ankle arthritis surgery: Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis result in ankle arthritis surgery. Triple fusion, ankle fusion, or ankle replacement are the common surgical procedures for curing the problem.

 

6. Achilles tendon disorder: Your daily activities are governed by the functioning of the Achilles tendon and any rupture in this can result in swelling, pain, and inability to walk. If the tear is major, surgery is the only option otherwise non-surgical options are also available for correcting the disorder.

 

7.  Morton’s neuroma foot surgery: Having a pebble-like feeling in the foot is an indication of Morton’s neuroma which is the swelling of the tissues around the nerves of the toes. It can be cured without surgery.

 

8.  Tibialis posterior dysfunction foot surgery: High-impact sports athletes are the victims of this tibialis posterior dysfunction. It can be cured through osteotomy, fusion, or tendon transfer.

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Signs You May Need an Ankle Replacement

Pain or misalignment in the structures that surround the ankle joint can lead to poor posture and poor gait, both of which, if not corrected, can cause chronic pain and long-term damage. 

The total ankle joint replacement also known as ankle arthroplasty has now become more common in patients with disabling issues of the ankle joint or the structures surrounding it. 

In this surgical procedure, the ankle joint is replaced with an artificial joint made up of medical-grade titanium and polyethylene materials. The objective of the artificial joint is to be wear-resistant, function efficiently under weight-bearing, permit a normal range of motion, maintain alignment and stabilize the body. 

Indications you might need Ankle Arthroplasty 

1. Primary or post-traumatic osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, is caused by inflammation, breakdown, and loss of cartilage (in the later stages) in the joints. The individual might experience severe pain in the ankle joint along with stiffness, tenderness, swelling, and crackles. If the osteoarthritis is chronic and the individual’s symptoms aren’t improving, ankle arthroplasty is a very viable option.

2. Chronic Ankle Pain 

If the ankle pain has not been resolved by all the possible non-surgical treatments and continues to persist, then going for arthroplasty is a good option because the ankle pain will restrict the individual’s mobility and create bad posture and gait, all of which can lead to a plethora of secondary problems. 

3. Fracture 

If it is a comminuted fracture or fracture that is very likely to mal-align during healing, it is better to go for ankle arthroplasty than to have risk the individual having a limited range of motion and mobility. 

4. Ankle instability 

An individual’s ankle joint might be more flexible from birth which might have led to too many ankle sprains during childhood or a certain activity that gives strain on the ankle joint directly can lead to ankle instability which in turn leads to over-stretching, tearing or loosening of the ligaments surrounding the ankle joint that might not heal completely. Ankle arthroplasty is a viable option in such cases. 

Ankle arthroplasty eliminates pain and can help an individual to be more physically active and hence have a better quality of life. 

The self-adaptive foot and ankle implants at DJO® including the STAR total ankle replacement are up-to-date with the recent advances and they aim to exceed the performance expectations of every surgeon and patient. Ask your foot and ankle surgeon what the best treatment option is for you.