Our feet are made up of 26 bones and more than 33 joints arranged in columns and arches that vary in stiffness and flexibility. Many common problems can occur in this complex structure.
Most people with problems in their feet or ankles won’t need surgery. The decision whether to operate depends on a number of factors:
You may feel nervous, stressed or scared if you’ve been told you need surgery. Finding out as much as you can about the operation and understanding the process will help you feel calmer and more in control.
Fixation of Distal Tibial Pilon fractures
Fixation of Ankle fractures & dislocations
Fixation of Talar fractures
Fixation of Calcaneal fractures
Fixation of Lisfranc fracture dislocation (midfoot)
Fixation of foot metacarpal and phalanx fractures
Achilles tendon rupture repair
Bunions are bony lumps that develop on the side of your foot and at the base of your big toe. They’re the result of a condition called hallux valgus, which causes your big toe joint to bend towards the other toes and become deformed. If symptoms carry on over a long period, your toe may need to be surgically corrected by osteotomy.
Hallux valgus can also cause your other toes to become clawed or permanently bent. This condition is known as hammer toes. Damages caused by hammer toes can be eased by:
Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in your body, and the muscle in your lower leg puts a lot of force through it to make you move. As we get older it can start to wear, which can lead to painful swellings within the main tendon or where it attaches to your heel bone.
Morton’s neuroma is a painful condition that involves a nerve that supplies feeling to two neighbouring toes. It most commonly affects the nerve to your third and fourth toes. If your symptoms are bad, surgery to remove the painful nerve can be successful.
The tibialis posterior is a muscle that supports the shape of your instep arch. The tendon that connects this muscle to the bone can become inflamed, leading to pain and swelling on the inside of your ankle. Continual swelling can start to cause the tendon to weaken, which can lead to a flatfooted look.
Occasionally, bad cases need surgery to rebuild the instep arch. If your case is long-standing or you haven’t had treatment, three of your hindfoot joints may need to be fused (triple fusion) to ease pain.
The plantar fascia is a tough band of fibrous tissue that starts at your heel bone and stretches across the sole of your foot to your toes. Plantar fasciitis is inflammation at the site where the fascia attaches under your heel. Very rarely, bad cases may need surgery to release the plantar fascia from the heel bone. Most commonly, we treat this condition with local injection therapy.
