Sometimes a foot or ankle injury requires surgical treatment. MaineHealth podiatrists, orthopedic specialists and diagnostic imaging specialists are here to help.
What is foot and ankle surgery?
There are many different types of foot and ankle surgeries. Some can be done quickly without having to stay overnight in the hospital. Others may take a few hours and require you to stay in the hospital for a couple of days.
The most common types of foot and ankle surgeries are:
- Bunions (bony lumps on the side of your foot that can make your big toe bend in)
- Hammer toes (when your toes become bent all the time without you being able to straighten them)
- Metatarsal surgery (small joints that can be moved out of place by arthritis)
- Ankle fusion (a treatment for arthritis)
- Triple fusion (a treatment for arthritis)
- Ankle replacement (removes the parts of your ankle bones that are worn out and replaces them with plastic or metal versions)
- Fractures (when a surgeon will reset or “fix” your bones so they will heal the right way)
What is forefoot surgery?
The forefoot is the part of the foot just under the toes, commonly referred to as the ball of the foot. Sometimes foot problems do not get better. Foot problems may cause pain and deformity. Surgery may be advised by your provider as treatment. Conditions that forefoot surgery treats include:
- Bunions
- Hammertoe
- Neuroma
- Bunionette
- Toenail deformities
- Bone spurs
What are the symptoms of a forefoot health condition?
Depending on the type of problem in the forefoot, you may notice some or all of the following symptoms:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Pain and difficulty walking
- Deformities (toes bending strangely, lumps growing on the sides of the foot)
- Calluses
How are forefoot problems diagnosed?
To decide if you need forefoot surgery, a podiatrist or other specialty doctor will examine your foot and talk with you about your symptoms and lifestyle. Your doctor will ask about your medical history, existing medical conditions, allergies, and current medications. Your doctor also may use an X-ray or other imaging test to look inside the foot and see if surgery will help the problem and improve the symptoms.
