Conditions Necessitating Surgery of the Foot

There are many conditions that might necessitate foot and ankle surgery.  Almost always, your doctor will approach your particular solutions from the most conservative standpoint first, as often, those conservative approaches are successful and require less invasion, have lower risks, have less cost, less downtime, and better long-term healing results, with less scarring and fewer side effects. Only you and your doctor can determine if a foot or ankle surgery is necessary. Some more severe conditions that may require surgery for the foot or ankle include:

• Achilles Tendinopathy - When the Achilles tendon undergoes degenerative changes and becomes thickened, causing inflammation and pain.
• Achilles tendon rupture - A complete tear of the Achilles tendon, a rupture causes pain and loss of movement and strength
• Adult acquired flatfoot deformity - Commonly known as flat foot or collapsed arch, the loss of arch occurs because the large tendon on the inside of the ankle becomes stretched out and no longer supports the foot’s arch as it should.
• Ankle arthritis - occurs when there is a breakdown of cartilage in the ankle joint from trauma such as a car accident, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, or infection.
• Ankle fracture - This occurs when one or both of the bones of the ankle - the tibia or fibula - is broken.  In cases where the fracture is unstable, surgical fixation is usually recommended.
• Ankle instability - Not treating an ankle injury can result in damage to the ankle joint’s cartilage, leaving the ankle unstable.  This causes pain and can lead to loss of ankle function.
• Arthritis
• Bunion - Occurs when there is a misalignment of the first metatarsal in relation to the big toe.  The often-noticeable bump is not new bone or overgrowth, but actually the metatarsal itself, shifted into an altered alignment. 
• Plantar fasciitis - The ligament that connects the heel bone to the toes and supports the arch of the foot.  Plantar fasciitis occurs when this ligament gets irritated and inflamed and is the most common cause of heel pain.

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Diagnosing Foot and Ankle Problems and Treatment Plans

To make a diagnosis, a clinical exam is the first step, along with a thorough health history and x-rays.  Depending on what your x-rays show, further imaging, such as CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound, may be required.  Following an injury or trauma, seek treatment right away.  Failure to do so can risk further complications, such as chronic instability, weakness, pain, or malunion.  Getting that diagnosis quickly means you can be treated while the injury is simpler to treat.

Your doctor will try to effectively treat you without surgery on ankles or feet if he or she can.  But, if you have already been treated without a good outcome, or you have a severe issue or a bad deformity, your doctor will likely discuss your surgical options and help decide which option is best for you.  

As always, you should consult your physician to help you decide your best path to wellness.  Surgery is a good option for problems of the foot and ankle, but not the only option, and should be carefully considered.

Find a suitable treatment for foot or ankle issues at Diablo Foot and Ankle. We offer both non-invasive and surgical treatments. Call us today to schedule an appointment. We are here for you!

Meta Description: Learn here about the many conditions that often need foot and ankle surgery. As well as what to expect from the diagnosis and treatment plans.