Reasons You May Need Foot and Ankle Surgery

Has your foot or ankle pain continued throughout multiple treatments? If so, you may benefit from surgery performed by your foot and ankle surgeon to fix the issue once and for all. But when is surgery necessary? What are the reasons that surgery may benefit you more than other treatments? Find out more about foot and ankle surgery and what it means for you with Dr. Matthew Hinderland at Foot and Ankle Institute of Colorado in Colorado Springs, CO.

When is foot and ankle surgery necessary? 
Your doctor will almost always try less invasive and complex treatments before suggesting surgery. However, if these treatments fail to produce the desired results, surgery may become necessary to repair the underlying root of your problem. Usually, foot and ankle surgery requires several weeks of recovery time while using crutches to walk. Your doctor may also suggest prescription painkillers or over-the-counter medications to help with the recovery process. Physical therapy is also common after surgery to rebuild the muscle and function of the ankle after its repair.

What can surgery treat? 
Some common foot and ankle surgeries include:

• Fracture Repair: This common surgery occurs when the ankle bone has become damaged by a fracture and focuses on repairing the bone, often by using hardware like screws or plates to hold it in place as it heals.
• Ankle Replacement: Ankle replacement surgery becomes necessary when arthritis in the ankle joint causes so much pain that medication stops being able to manage it. The replacement joint often has artificial parts to it, held in place with a special glue.
• Ankle Fusion: This procedure joins the bones together permanently. After ankle fusion, the patient will not have an up-and-down or side-to-side range of motion in their ankle joint.
• Ankle Arthroscopy: This minimally invasive procedure uses a small incision and tube with a light attached to explore the ankle joint, remove debris, or repair a damaged ligament.

Foot and Ankle Surgery in Colorado Springs, CO 
If you think you could benefit from foot and ankle surgery, a consultation with your podiatrist can help you determine whether this is the best treatment for you to overcome your ankle pain for good. For more information on foot and ankle surgery, please contact Dr. Matthew Hinderland at Foot and Ankle Institute of Colorado in Colorado Springs, CO. Call (719) 488-4664 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Hinderland today!