Foot and ankle issues are most common because of the complex network of bones, muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments within these critical body components. If any structures become weakened from injury, overuse, deformity, or illness, you must consult a qualified orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon to assess and treat the condition. Many foot and ankle issues can be addressed effectively with physical therapy, shoe inserts, and orthotics. However, if foot & ankle surgery Mill Creek, WA is recommended, alternatives may include:
- Ankle arthroscopy – Your surgeon utilizes a tiny camera to view the inside of your ankle (not your foot) and examine your bones and cartilage. This minimally invasive operation may address arthritis, fractures, instability, anterior ankle impingement, infection, and other ankle problems.
- Ankle joint replacement – During ankle replacement, your specialist eliminates damaged ends of bones and cartilage and replaces them with an artificial joint. Ankle joint replacement relieves pain caused by arthritis.
- Ankle or foot fusion surgery – Foot or ankle fusion addresses damaged or degenerated bone and cartilage to stabilize your ankle. This treatment can effectively minimize pain due to arthritis but does limit the range of motion of your foot or ankle.
- Ankle ligament reconstruction – Your doctor may suggest ankle ligament reconstruction if conservative therapy has failed to address chronic or repetitive ankle sprains and ligament degeneration. This operation tightens ankle ligaments to help increase your stability and range of motion.
- Deformity correction – Foot and ankle abnormalities caused by developmental problems, arthropathies (joint disease), neuropathic illnesses, trauma, infection, or past procedures, can significantly impact your foot and ankle function and make daily tasks difficult. Your surgeons may develop personalized surgical plans to treat your deformity, alleviate pain or disability, and restore function to your foot and ankle.
- Fracture repair – Fractures of your ankle and foot are usually treated nonoperatively, although they may necessitate surgery if the fracture is unstable, displaced, or impacts a joint. Surgical fixation of your foot and ankle fractures aims to correct bone position, stabilize and encourage bone healing to restore function, and reduce the chance of persistent issues, arthritis, or stiffness after injury.
- Flat foot correction – Flat foot surgery treats flattening of the arch of your foot to restore normal pressure when standing and walking. A combination of operations to address your ligaments, tendons and bone alignment is done to reconstruct a flexible flat foot.
- Cartilage repair – There are numerous types of cartilage repair surgery available to repair your damaged cartilage in the ankle, like cartilage restoration and regeneration operations and osteochondral grafts.
Surgery can treat many foot and ankle disorders, including bunions, tendon rips, and severe arthritis. Foot and ankle surgery is often chosen only after nonsurgical procedures have failed to produce the intended results. Certain situations, particularly severe injuries such as ankle fractures, may necessitate immediate surgery.
Several surgical operations can be utilized to treat foot and ankle issues. Depending on the kind of condition, the objective of the surgery may be to align your broken bones, fuse painful joints, eliminate overgrown tissue, or repair a torn ligament or tendon. In cases of extensive damage and severe discomfort in your ankle joint, total ankle replacement may be suggested. Call Hansen Foot & Ankle or book your consultation online to determine which foot and ankle surgery procedures are appropriate for you.
