Our feet are made up of 26 bones and over 33 joints that are organized in columns and arches with varying stiffness and flexibility. In this intricate framework, several frequent issues might arise.
The foot is generally divided into three sections:
The heel bone (calcaneus) and the ankle forms the rear of your foot (hindfoot) (talus). Your subtalar joint connects them and allows your foot to move from side to side. The ankle joint, which serves as a hinge, connects the ankle bone to your leg bones (tibia and fibula). This allows you to bend your foot up and down. In case of any major issues in your feet, you may consider ankle surgery in Houston.
Five tarsal bones make up the center of your foot (midfoot). These shape your foot’s arch. Muscles and the arch ligament link your tarsal bones to the front and rear of your foot (the plantar fascia). When we walk or run, they function as shock absorbers.
The front of your foot (forefoot) is made up of toe bones (phalanges) that are joined by joints to five long bones (metatarsals). Your toes’ joints don’t move too much. Half of your body weight is supported by your forefoot.
Tendons connect the muscles in your lower leg to the bones in your foot, and they govern the mobility that allows us to stand, walk, go on tiptoes, and leap. These muscles govern the posture of your foot when it strikes the ground, allowing it to become flexible and soften the impact. They also stiffen the arches of your feet, causing your body to move forward.
Your Achilles tendon, the most crucial tendon for mobility, connects your heel bone to the calf muscles in your lower leg. The tibialis posterior tendon, which connects the underside of your foot to your lower thigh, supports your arch and allows you to turn it around and walk.
The major nerve of your foot controls the muscles in your sole and provides sensation to your toes and here. Other nerves provide sensation to the top and outside of your foot.
Bunions and hammer toes, ankle arthritis, Achilles tendon diseases, and plantar fasciitis are other conditions that may necessitate surgery. Ankle surgery may be required to address fractures (broken bones), arthritis, tendinitis, and other conditions that cannot be cured with rehabilitation and drugs.
Ankle fracture surgery is performed if the bones of the ankle are unstable and require additional support to recover. Milder fractures may not require surgical correction if the ankle is stable and the shattered bone is not out of position.
A variety of ankle surgeries are available to treat various injuries or medical disorders affecting your ankle.
- Ankle issues that may necessitate surgery include:
- Ankle fracture.
- Arthritis is characterized by pain and immobility.
- Chronic ankle instability caused by numerous sprains or other factors
- Ankle malformation.
- Ankle tendonitis/synovitis that is chronic.
Ankle Arthroscopy (for arthritis and ankle injuries): This minimally invasive procedure comprises a series of tiny incisions in your ankle. Surgeons utilize specialized devices to remove bone or cartilage fragments from the ankle.
Tendon Surgery is performed. Surgery for chronic tendonitis/synovitis of the ankle can be as simple as removing unhealthy tendon tissue or correcting a rip. It can even be as sophisticated as Achilles repair/reconstruction and tendon transfer, which involves removing a damaged tendon and/or replacing it with another tendon from the foot.
Ankle Fracture Surgery: If you have fractured bones in your ankle (a broken ankle), surgery can help you repair the bone and stabilize the cracks. Screws, metal plates, and tiny metal wires may be used to keep the shattered bone in place while it heals. There are several sorts of operations available based on the type of fracture, and your surgeon will discuss your exact surgery with you.
Ankle Fusion (arthritic treatment): Surgeons debride (remove damaged tissue) the surfaces of the ankle joint afflicted by arthritis during this operation. The ankle bones are then permanently fused together by doctors using screws and metal plates.
Ankle Replacement Surgery involves the precise removal of the diseased ankle joint. They replace the injured joint with a plastic or metal replacement joint. In most situations, surgeons use special surgical adhesive to adhere the new joint to the existing bone. Screws may also be used by your surgeon to assist support the ankle replacement.
Reconstruction Of The Lateral Ankle Ligament (for persistent ankle instability or foot deformities): The Brostrom technique is another name for it. The surgeon creates a tiny incision on the outside of your ankle and then tightens the loose and weakening ligaments that cause ankle instability.
There are some primary benefits of foot and ankle surgery, Depending on the operation, long-term pain reduction enhances function and mobility. A wider range of comfortable footwear improves the look of your feet.