6 Common Foot and Ankle Surgeries

When conservative treatments for foot and ankle pain don't bring relief, surgery often becomes the necessary next step to restore comfort, function, and mobility. While the idea of foot surgery can seem daunting, many procedures we at PodiatryCare, PC, and the Heel Pain Center do are highly effective. Here are 6 of the most common, including why they might be your best solution.

Bunionectomy

This is often the last resort for bunion correction. People typically need this surgery when conservative measures like wider shoes, padding, and orthotics fail to relieve persistent pain, the big toe deformity becomes severe, significantly impacts daily activities, or causes other toes to become deformed (like hammertoes). The goal of a bunionectomy is to realign the big toe joint, alleviate pain, and restore normal foot function.

Hammertoe Correction

This surgery is usually considered when the toe becomes too rigid and painful, or when conservative treatments like padding, shoe modifications, and stretching exercises are no longer effective in managing the corns, calluses, and discomfort.

The procedure is simple: it involves straightening the toe by either removing a small piece of bone or fusing a joint, which will allow the toe to finally lie flat.

Plantar Fasciotomy

While a less common solution, a plantar fasciotomy is performed to treat severe, chronic plantar fasciitis. This surgery is generally considered only after extensive non-surgical treatments have failed to provide relief for at least six to twelve months.

The procedure involves partially cutting the plantar fascia ligament at its attachment to the heel bone to release the tension and reduce inflammation.

Achilles Tendon Repair

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body, so a tear or complete rupture is a debilitating injury that often requires surgery.

Surgeons simply aim to reattach the torn tendon ends, which will enable you to once again walk normally.

Ankle Fusion

Ankle fusion is just that: the fusing of the ankle bones. Surgery is performed for severe ankle arthritis, chronic ankle instability that doesn't respond to bracing, or extensive ankle deformity that causes debilitating pain. By fusing the bones, the surgery eliminates painful joint motion and provides a stable, pain-free platform for walking.

Neurectomy

This one is for Morton's neuroma, which is a thickened, irritated nerve usually found in the ball of the foot. When wider shoes, padding, orthotics, and injections all fail to provide relief from the persistent, burning pain, numbness, or tingling between the toes, we can go in to remove the affected nerve completely.

At PodiatryCare, PC, and the Heel Pain Center, we treat a wide variety of foot and ankle ailments. Dr. Matthew Tschudy, Dr. Rebecca Wiesner, Dr. Kristen Winters, Dr. Laura Vander Poel, and the rest of our team are ready to serve our Hartford County patients. To schedule an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.