Our Services / Foot Surgery

Why would I need foot surgery?

Dr. Hansen assesses each patient’s need for foot or ankle surgery on a case-by-case basis. If you’re suffering severe foot pain and loss of function, surgery might be the only way to fix the problem. If your symptoms don’t improve with noninvasive treatments, you might need surgery.

Many foot and ankle conditions can benefit from surgery. These include:

• Bunions
• Rigid hammertoe
• Arthritis
• Achilles tendon disorders
• Morton’s neuroma
• Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) (which can lead to flat feet)
• Plantar fasciitis
• Flat feet
• Fractures that won’t heal
• Severe ligament tears
• Damaged or loose cartilage
• Very deep corns

Long-lasting pain relief is the main benefit of foot surgery for these conditions.

What does foot surgery involve?

To prepare for foot surgery, you consult with Dr. Hansen to assess your overall health and discuss any necessary changes to the medications you take. You can also ask about the procedure so that you go into surgery with a clear head. In some cases, you might have to stop eating and drinking a few hours before surgery.

Some of the foot and ankle surgeries Dr. Hansen does include:

• Tendon and ligament repair
• Joint replacement
• Reconstruction
• Osteotomy
• Fusion
• Fracture repair
• Plantar fascia release

Where possible, Dr. Hansen uses a minimally invasive technique like arthroscopy. This alternative to open surgery involves making a tiny incision into your foot to insert an arthroscope.

The arthroscope is equipped with a mini camera and light. These enable Dr. Hansen to do your foot surgery by looking at high-definition images sent by the camera to an OR monitor. Arthroscopic foot surgery causes far less tissue damage than open surgery, meaning less pain and a faster recovery.

However, arthroscopy might not be suitable for all surgeries or all cases.

What does recovery from foot surgery involve?

Recovery from foot surgery varies case by case, depending on your condition and the kind of surgery Dr. Hansen does.

Generally, he recommends that you get plenty of rest and ice the affected area. He might also ask you to compress the wound under a bandage and keep the surgery site raised to prevent swelling.

You might also need to use a:

• Splint
• Cast
• Surgical shoe
• Crutches
• Orthotics (shoe inserts)
• Cane or walker

After foot surgery, physical therapy is usually recommended to restore the foot’s complete function.

To find out if foot surgery is the best choice for you, call Hansen Foot & Ankle today or book an appointment online.