Five Common Types of Foot Surgery

Five Common Types of Foot Surgery

Foot surgery ranges from simple procedures like bunion surgery to complex foot surgery like Achilles tendon reattachment. Because the human foot comprises several complex structures, a lot can go wrong. When something goes wrong, the essential act of standing and walking can become a nightmare. Foot surgery helps correct the issues in your feet to help you regain your foot functions.

Who needs foot surgery? 

Foot surgery is recommended for people with serious foot problems, which are not responding to non-surgical treatments. Foot surgery is also recommended for people with chronic foot pain arising from a preexisting condition.

1. Crooked Toe Foot Surgery

Crooked toes can be nasty. If you have crooked toes that have set in a permanent shape, walking may be difficult and painful. Crooked toe foot surgery helps fix this. During surgery, the surgeon will either reconstruct or replace the affected joint (arthroplasty) or remove the joint and immobilize the digit (arthrodesis). Crooked toe foot surgery can be performed in an office setting.

2. Bunion Foot Surgery

A bunion is a bone deformity at the base of the big toe called hallux valgus. Hallux valgus occurs when wrong footwear choices (high heels and narrow front) push the big toe inwards towards the other toes. Bunion foot surgery is a corrective procedure (osteotomy) that straightens the big toe and adjacent bones (metatarsals).

3. Heel Foot Surgery

A painful heel can make it difficult to walk. When no other treatments work, heel surgery may be an option. While there are various types of heel surgery, the most common is called plantar fascia release surgery. The procedure targets the plantar fascia, a band of tissue connecting the toes to the heel bone. Depending on the case, the foot specialist may cut part of this tissue or release any tightened parts.

4. Metatarsal Foot Surgery

Metatarsal bones connect your toes to your foot.  Since they bear a lot of pressure when standing or walking, any inflammation in this area can be debilitating. Inflammation can be caused by dislocation, arthritis, or bone deformity. Metatarsal foot surgery depends on the type and severity of the problem affecting the metatarsal bones. In most cases, the metatarsal and the big toe can be surgically repositioned.

5. Neuroma Foot Surgery

Neuroma foot surgery may be recommended for people with Morton’s neuroma. Morton’s neuroma is a condition that affects the nerves around the toes and the ball of the foot. Tissue covering these nerves thickens, resulting in nerve overstimulation when you step down. The podiatrist locates the affected nerve and removes it. Since the foot has multiple nerves, this may not affect the overall sensation of the foot.

In Summary

Foot surgery, like any other surgery, is recommended when other non-invasive treatment methods fail. If you have a foot problem, your podiatrist may recommend several non-surgical options. However, if they do not work, minimally invasive foot surgery can be an excellent option to correct the issue, stop the pain, and restore motion.