What is foot and ankle surgery?

Foot and ankle surgery consists of endless procedures to restore foot and ankle mobility. Foot and ankle conditions such as bunions, torn tendons, and debilitating foot arthritis are addressed.

Surgery may involve the attachment of joints (joint fusion surgery) to eliminate pain, the surgical removal of thick tissue and the reattachment of a torn ligament through reconstruction surgery.

What are the main reasons for foot and ankle surgery?

When non-surgical treatments fail to produce results, surgical procedures are often considered. For example, a sudden injury such as an ankle fracture may require immediate surgical intervention, which involves realigning the broken bones in a fixed position.

Sometimes total ankle replacement surgery is the best surgical option when the patient experiences debilitating foot and ankle pain.

How do you perform foot and ankle surgery?

The following surgeries are considered foot and ankle procedures:

Ankle fusion surgery
Ankle fusion involves connecting the bones in the ankle in a single unit to strengthen the joint. The procedure is recommended for patients with severe ankle arthritis that prevents them from moving as well as they used to.

Bunion surgery
A bunion or corrective Hallux valgus surgery is a procedure to correct tissue enlargement at the stem of the little or big toe. Surgery involves severing and restringing ligaments, tendons and bones in the affected foot.

Ankle ligament reconstruction
Ankle ligament reconstruction entails lengthening and firming several ligaments on the exterior of the ankle. This particular procedure is referred to as the Brostrom surgery and is done on an outpatient basis. Dr Rose can tighten the ligaments through a small cut outside the ankle.

Ankle replacement
Ankle replacement is a procedure to remove and replace an injured ankle joint with a synthetic implant/prosthesis. This procedure is done to relieve pain from foot and ankle arthritis. First, Dr Rose replaces the injured or worn-out portion of the talus and shinbone with metal components which he attaches to the remaining bones. Afterwards, he uses natural cement to fix the new pieces in place.