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Many foot and ankle problems can be treated without surgery, but conditions involving structural deformities, tendon ruptures, severe fractures, ligament damage, or advanced arthritis often require surgical intervention. Surgical procedures such as Achilles tendon repair, bunion correction, ankle replacement, and ligament reconstruction can restore stability, reduce pain, and improve long-term mobility when conservative care is no longer effective.
Foot and ankle pain can significantly affect your ability to move comfortably and perform everyday activities. In many cases, these issues can be resolved with rest, physical therapy, orthotics or other nonsurgical treatments. However, if these conservative treatment options fail to alleviate your pain and restore proper function, surgery may be the best option.
There are a wide range of foot and ankle issues that may potentially require surgery. These conditions can be related to structural deformities, tendon and ligament injuries, degenerative conditions or overuse. The following overview discusses some of the most common conditions where foot and ankle surgery may be recommended as the best option to restore a pain free life.
Your Achilles tendon connects your calf muscles to your heel bone. It plays a major role in performing actions such as walking, jumping and running. A torn Achilles tendon most commonly occurs during high-impact sports or other strenuous physical activities. In most instances, you’ll feel a pop or snap in the back of your ankle when this injury occurs.
Achilles tendon surgery is performed to reattach the torn tendons, helping you regain full strength and reduce the risk of a subsequent rupture. Recovery will involve an extensive rehabilitation program that generally includes physical therapy.
If conservative treatments fail to relieve your pain, bunion surgery may be required to address the condition. The surgical technique will depend on the severity of the bunion, health of the connective tissue and bone quality in your foot.
Ankle fractures can occur due to high-impact trauma from a sports injury, car crash or another type of accident. These fractures can range in severity from minor cracks to complete breaks involving multiple bones and ligaments in the ankle. Surgery may be necessary if the joint is unstable or the bones become displaced.
During ankle surgery, metal plates, screws or rods are used to realign the ankle bones into their proper position and restore stability in the joint.
Hammertoe is a deformity that occurs on one of your middle toes, causing the toe to bend abnormally at the middle joint. It can result in significant pain, difficulty walking, and corns or calluses on the toe. In addition, the deformity may cause the toe to resemble a hammer. Surgery to correct a hammertoe may be necessary if the joint stiffens and causes persistent pain.
The plantar fascia is the ligament underneath your foot supporting the foot’s arch. Plantar fasciitis occurs when this ligament becomes inflamed due to stress or an injury. This condition can result in significant heal pain.
In many instances, plantar fasciitis will heal with conservative treatments such as rest, orthotics or physical therapy. However, if these treatments fail to alleviate your pain or if a complete tear of the plantar fascia occurs, surgery may be necessary to reattach or reinforce the ligament.
Ankle replacement is the most common surgical procedure performed to correct ankle arthritis. During this procedure, the damaged portions of your ankle joint are removed and replaced with a prosthetic ankle implant.
A Lisfranc injury occurs when the bones or ligaments in the midfoot become dislocated or fractured. This condition is typically caused by a twisting or high-impact trauma from a fall or sports injury. In some instances, it may also be caused by overuse or repetitive stress. A Lisfranc injury can result in:
Surgery may be necessary to realign and stabilize the bones and ligaments after a severe injury.
Repetitive ankle sprains may result in chronic ankle instability. This instability prevents the ankle ligaments from supporting the joint properly, and often causes you to feel like your ankle is “giving out.”
Surgery may be required if bracing and physical therapy aren’t able to restore stability in your ankle. During surgery, the damaged ligaments may be tightened or replaced.
If you’ve suffered a foot or ankle injury that requires surgery, Colorado Advanced Orthopedics can help. Our team includes some of the finest board-certified, fellowship trained orthopedic surgeons on the Western Slope. All foot and ankle surgeries at CAO are performed by Dr. Alejandro Miranda. Dr. Miranda is a foot and ankle specialist with a dual fellowship in sports medicine and foot and ankle surgery.
Dr. Miranda has extensive experience performing a wide range of foot and ankle procedures, including:
This specialization provides Dr. Miranda with the background necessary to address just about any foot and ankle condition you may have. While we will always recommend conservative treatments whenever possible, Dr. Miranda’s surgical skill ensures you will receive the exceptional outcome you deserve if surgery is necessary. There’s no reason to endure foot pain any longer. At Colorado Advanced Orthopedics, we can help you restore a pain free life and get back to your favorite activities as soon as possible.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment. We serve patients in Meeker, the White River Valley, Grand Junction and throughout the Western Slope.
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