Foot And Ankle Surgery
You might need foot and ankle surgery for many possible reasons, but there’s always one thing that holds true: you need an expert podiatrist with years of experience to perform the surgery. The team of podiatric medicine doctors at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ohio in Mentor, Chardon, Westlake, Bedford and Garfield Heights, Ohio, performs reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, bunion correction, ankle-fracture surgery, ankle replacement, and many other foot and ankle surgeries using the latest and most effective techniques. Book now via the online tool or by phone.
Foot and Ankle Surgery Q & A
What are some common foot and ankle surgeries?
Foot and ankle surgery includes many different procedures, including:
- Reconstructive foot and ankle surgery
- Bunion correction, bunion removal, and toe straightening
- Ankle-fracture surgery
- Peripheral-nerve surgery for diabetes sufferers
- Ankle arthroscopy for diagnosis and treatment
- Ankle replacement
- Charcot foot correction for diabetic neuropathy sufferers
- Ilizarov surgery, a surgery that includes an external fixation device
- Diabetic limb salvage to prevent amputation
- Ankle-ligament repair to restore or replace ligaments
- Ankle fusion to strengthen an arthritic ankle
Regardless of what kind of foot and ankle surgery you need, the experienced podiatric medicine doctors at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ohio have the skill to perform the procedure in a way that gives you optimal results.
What is recovery after foot and ankle surgery like?
Recovery varies with the type of foot or ankle surgery you have. In the majority of foot and ankle surgeries, you’ll need to wear a cast or boot for at least a couple of weeks afterward. You’ll likely use crutches for some time as well.
In most foot and ankle surgeries, you need to keep your full weight off your ankle and foot for as long as six weeks. Under your podiatrist’s guidance, you’ll put more and more pressure on your foot, gradually increasing your weight-bearing, until you’re ready to put full pressure on it.
Physical therapy after surgery can help you strengthen your ankle, so it’s important that you adhere strictly to your physical-therapy program to rebuild your strength.
Full recovery can take six-12 months, but very little of that is actual downtime.
Do I need another surgery to remove ankle hardware?
In some cases, foot or ankle surgery includes placement of ankle hardware such as tiny screws or plates. Generally, metal hardware can remain in your foot or ankle permanently without causing any problems. In the rare event that the hardware moves out of place or causes you pain, your podiatrist can remove it once your injury is fully healed.
Ankle or foot issues? Get help from an experienced podiatric-medicine doctor now. Schedule online or by phone today.