What is podiatric foot surgery?
Podiatric foot surgery is a surgical intervention that deals with the treatment and definitive correction of diseases and malformations that appear in the feet.
It is a surgery that, within the area of Podiatry, is one of the most used methods to treat pathologies that affect the foot, obtaining great results.
Why is podiatric foot surgery performed?
The purpose of podiatric foot surgery is to provide definitive solutions to pathologies or diseases affecting the foot and ankle, but which have not been corrected by conservative treatment.
Podiatric surgery covers a wide range of deformities and pathologies, from the most basic to the most complex surgeries. Thus, the pathologies that are most frequently treated by podiatric foot surgery are:
- Simple pathologies, such as ingrown toenails.
- Pathologies of dermal origin, such as papillomas or cysts.
- More complex pathologies, such as hallux valgus (bunions), claw toes, tailor’s bunion, metatarsalgia, plantar fasciitis, osteoarthritis of the foot, Morton’s neuroma, talalgias and heel spurs.
What is podiatric foot surgery?
Podiatric foot surgery is a surgical procedure that, in the vast majority of cases, is performed under local anesthesia. However, sometimes it is performed under conscious sedation, to make the patient more comfortable during the intervention.
In addition, it is a surgery that is performed on an outpatient basis. In this sense, the operation is performed without the need for hospitalization, so that the patient can usually return home the same day of the intervention.
Preparation for podiatric foot surgery
Before the surgery is performed, it is very important that the doctor makes an evaluation of the patient and to measure the state of the patient’s podiatric health. Depending on the level of severity, the specialist will determine which is the most indicated technique to treat the pathology.
Once the technique to be performed has been decided, the physician performs a series of tests on the patient, including X-rays, ultrasound and radioscopy. In this way, it is possible to perform the most appropriate treatment.
Care after the operation
Although this type of surgery has a fast and satisfactory postoperative period, after podiatric foot surgery it is important to follow a series of guidelines. These guidelines will always depend on a number of factors such as the characteristics of each individual or the technique used to perform the surgery, as it can vary greatly from one individual to another.
However, there are a number of basic guidelines:
- Relative rest during the 48 hours following the intervention.
- No long walks or intense physical activities during the first 15 days.
- Wear open-toed, post-surgical shoes for one week.
- Take anti-inflammatory or analgesic drugs in case of pain after surgery