Toronto podiatrist lectures on bunion surgery to a world wide group of doctors and foot surgeons

On October 17, 2013, I had the honor of addressing the International Federation of Podiatrists in a meeting of the World Podiatry Congress in Rome, Italy. More than 1000 podiatrists, doctors and orthopedic foot surgeons attended the meeting.

I was part of a foot surgery panel during which I explained how to perform a Minimally Invasive Bunion surgery  called the modified Wilson osteotomy, a procedure I have been using in my office to successfully treat patients, for more than 30 years.

After a short introduction in Italian, courtesy of the translate app on my iPhone, I discussed how bunion surgery can be performed in an office, with local anesthetic, without the need for casts and crutches.

I showed pictures of the specialized instrumentation that podiatrists use to work through very small openings in the skin. This results in much less soft tissue trauma compared to conventional hospital surgery, which usually means much less postoperative discomfort and swelling. I described the postoperative care which involves carefully taping the foot for six weeks and changing the dressing weekly to encourage proper healing. I showed before and after x-rays and photographs of peoples' feet.

I also attended several lectures, including one given by my colleagues, Don Peacock,D.P.M., a podiatrist from North Carolina, and Mariano de Prado, M.D, an orthopedic foot surgeon from Spain, whom I have known for several years. Like me, they are fellow members of the Academy of Foot a Ankle Surgery.The lectures included lesser metatarsal osteotomies to treat painful, calluses, metatarsalgia and pain at the ball the foot, as well as procedures to correct lesser toe deformities, or contracted toes which can cause painful Hammertoes Corns and Bone Spurs and difficulty with wearing shoes comfortably. I have been performing all these procedures in my office for many years, but it is always interesting to hear how other practitioners perform foot surgery.

I was also fortunate to get a nice notice for my lecture on the Podiatric Medicine Management website (PM News). You can read about it at http://www.podiatrym.com/search3.cfm?id=68165 

This was a very exciting trip for me, since I have never been to Rome.

We stayed in a quaint little hotel near the Spanish Steps. I was able to climb the steps without the use of an oxygen tank. I walked over to the beautiful Trevi fountain and now I know where the expression "My foot looks beautiful, like the fountain of Trevi" comes from.

We lined up for the Sistine Chapel and really enjoyed Michelangelo's paintings on the ceiling, but I must say, it was a little hard on my neck. They wouldn't let us take any pictures inside or even talk while we were there. Some of the locals did break the rules.

As someone who studied Latin for four years in high school, I found the tour of the Coliseum and Forum to be quite fascinating.

The food was good, too.

If you would like find out if minimally invasive foot surgery is right for you, please call my Toronto podiatry Office at 416-486-9917 today to set up a private consutation.

Arrivederci Roma!

photo above of the Trevi Fountain by Marsha: Left to right, Dr.Jeff Ross of Houston, Dr. Rick Jacoby of Scottsdale, your friendly neighborhood Toronto podiatrist