Foot and Ankle Surgery

What is Foot and Ankle Replacement Surgery?

Foot and Ankle Replacement Surgery is a type of surgery on the foot and ankle that can be performed to fix injuries or correct deformities. It can be used for any number of purposes, including to remove tumors, treat fractures, treat infections, relieve pain, or repair ruptured ligaments. The goal of surgery is to help you regain your ability to walk and move freely, while preventing the development of new problems in the years ahead.

Who Should Have Surgery On Their Feet And Ankles?

Treatment is required for those suffering from the following conditions:

Deformities of the feet
Toes with a bunion are known as hammer toes.
Injuries to the ankle
Fractures of the ligaments
Diabetic foot complications
Other sprains and sprains of the ankle and leg

Foot and ankle surgery is a sub-specialty surgery type of orthopedics section which deals with the treatment, diagnosis as well as prevention of any kind of disorders occurring in the foot and ankle.

Types of Foot and Ankle Replacement Surgery

Replacement surgeries for feet and ankles will vary depending on numerous factors like the size of the patient’s injury and type of foot or ankle replacement surgery they wish to undergo. Some surgeries involve replacing only a few bones at once while others may require reconstructive surgeries and replacement joints that are surgically implanted into new areas of the patient’s body.

Even though such surgeries usually take a day, one must stay in the hospital for about 5 days. The types are as follows:

Bunion

Toes with Hammers

Surgery on the metatarsal bones

Arthritis of the ankle

Disorders of the Achilles tendon

Bunion

Bunions are a type of bunion that develops when the big toe joint enlarges or overgrows. In the opposite direction, it progressively drifts away from the others. It becomes a source of pain and irritation when it brushes against the shoes. Surgery can be used to correct this.

Toes with Hammers

Hammer toes are a disorder in which the human toes become claw-shaped or permanently bent. A multitude of procedures, including as arthroplasty and arthrodesis, can be used to rectify this. These procedures might take anywhere from an hour to a day.

Surgery on the metatarsal bones

Metatarsal-phalangeal joints are the joints in your forefoot. They can be irritated and painful if the lining of the joint is inflamed (synovitis), or they can be dislocated if the joint is damaged by arthritis. Depending on the severity of the problem, surgery may be the sole option if other therapies fail.

Arthritis of the ankle

Ankle arthritis is caused by osteoarthritis, a condition in which the cartilage covering the ends of the bones becomes roughed up and thins over time. Rheumatic diseases are caused by the thickening of the bone beneath it. It causes swelling, deformity, and pain, necessitating surgical intervention.

There are two possibilities:

Fusion of the ankles: The diseased ankle joint is removed, and the patient's talus bone and tibia are fused together to create a rigid and pain-free ankle. The foot and leg are fused at a straight angle, with screws holding the bones together while new bone forms over a period of 12–14 weeks.
Replacement of the ankle: This operation entails removing the worn-out ends of the tibia and talus bones of the foot and replacing them with prosthetic ends made of plastic or metal. This procedure takes around an hour or two, and the patient recovers in about six weeks. This replacement lasts about 15 years before requiring new joints.

Disorders of the Achilles tendon

The Achilles tendon is the biggest tendon in the human body, and it requires a lot of strength to move. It begins to wear with age, causing swelling and pain inside the major tendon. Surgery, which is usually done in a day and requires crutches, thereafter, is the most common type of treatment. There are now three options for ankle replacement implants, each with its own design. InBone (Wright) ankle replacement, Salto Talaris (Tornier) ankle replacement, and Agility (Depuy) ankle replacement are the three types.

Morton's neuroma: Morton's neuroma is a painful disorder that mostly affects the nerves that supply sensation to the two adjoining toes (third and fourth toes). If the problem is serious, you may need surgery to remove the nerve, which may need you to wear a bandage for about two weeks.
Posterior tibialis dysfunction: The Tibialis posterior muscle and tendon, which sustain the contour of the human instep arch, become inflamed, resulting in swelling and pain on the inside of the ankle. This gives the impression of being flatfooted. If the issue worsens, surgery to rebuild the instep arch is the sole option. The procedure takes around 2 hours, and recovery takes about 8-12 weeks.
Plantar fasciitis: The plantar fascia is a band of strong fibrous tissue that runs from the bottom of the foot to the tips of the toes. This disorder produces irritation under the heel in the area where the fascia is linked. In more severe cases, surgery is required to release the tissues from the heel bone. The surgery will take around an hour, and you will be required to wear a bandage thereafter.

Foot deformities

Bunion

Hammer toes

Ankle injuries

Ligament fractures

Diabetic foot disorders

Other trauma to the ankle and leg

Types of Foot and Ankle Surgery:

Though such surgeries take normally a day’s time but one needs to stay in the hospital for around 5 days. Following are the types:

Bunions

Bunions is that condition which occurs because of the enlargement or overgrowth of the big toe joint. It slowly drifts away from the others in the reverse direction. When it rubs with the shoes, it becomes the cause of pain and irritation. This can be corrected through surgery.

Hammer Toes

The condition when the human toes become claw-shaped or are permanently bent, it is known as hammer toes. This can be corrected through a number of ways such as arthroplasty and arthrodesis . These surgeries take a span ranging from an hour to a day.

Metatarsal surgery

The joints in your forefoot are called metatarsal-phalangeal joints. They can get damaged by inflammation of the lining of the joint (synovitis) or can get dislocated when damaged by arthritis, causing irritation and pain. . If other treatments do not help, surgery is the only solution, depending on the severity of the problem.

Ankle arthritis

The cause of ankle arthritis is osteoarthritis where the cartilage covering the ends of the bones get roughed-up and gradually become thin. The bone below it thickens, causing rheumatic conditions. It becomes the cause of swelling, deformity and pain, which needs surgery for correction. There are two options:

Ankle arthritis

Ankle fusion –
This process deals with removal of the damaged ankle joint and then fusing patient’s talus bone to his tibia for making a stiff and pain-free ankle. The foot is fused with the leg at a right angle where bones are put together with screws and new bone grows taking around 12–14 weeks
Ankle replacement –
This procedure deals with removal of the worn-out ends of the foot’s tibia and talus bones and their replacement with the artificial ends that might be made up of plastic or metal. This surgery takes around an hour or two and a patient gets well in 6 weeks. This replacement lasts for around 15 years and may need new joints.
Achilles tendon disorders -
The largest tendon in a human body is the Achilles tendon, which needs a lot of power for movement. With age, it starts wearing, leading to swelling and pain within the main tendon. Mostly the method of its treatment is surgery, performed in a day’s time and needing crutches later.
Presently, there are 3 choices in ankle replacement implants where each has a specific design. The three types ate- InBone (Wright) ankle replacement, The Salto Talaris (Tornier) ankle replacement and the Agility (Depuy) ankle replacement.
Morton’s neuroma -
Morton’s neuroma is a painful condition that mainly creates a painful condition in nerves (third and fourth toes) that supply sensation to the two neighboring toes. If the problem is severe, surgery for removal of the nerve is the solution which needs you to wear a bandage for about 2 weeks afterwards.
Tibialis posterior dysfunction -
Tibialis posterior, the muscle supporting the shape of the human’s instep arch and the tendon gets inflamed that results in swelling and pain on the inside of the ankle. This generally results in a flatfooted appearance. If the condition is worse, the only resort is surgery for rebuilding the instep arch. The operation takes around 2 hours and takes around 8-12 weeks to get healed.
Plantar fasciitis -
Plantar fascia is a group of strong fibrous tissue that spreads across the sole of the foot to the toes. This condition causes inflammation in the very area where fascia is attached under the heel. Some bad cases require surgery for releasing the tissues from the heel bone. The surgery needs takes around an hour and one is needed to wear a bandage after the surgery.

Benefits of Foot and Ankle surgery

There are various benefits of foot and ankle surgery. Some are mentioned below:

Relief from pain
Restoration of joint function in patients
Getting rid of osteoarthritis, traumatic arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
Ability to maintain movement in the joints
A more normal walking gait pattern
Protection of the surrounding joints
A range of movement of ankle and foot

Cost of Foot and Ankle Surgery in India

The costs of any kind of surgery in the western countries like the USA and the UK is quite high. In comparison to this, the cost of foot and ankle surgery in India is quite pocket-friendly. The best part is that a patient can enjoy such affordable treatments from internationally trained doctors and surgeons who get the assistance of dedicated and professional staff/personnel. The technology used in top-most hospitals offering excellent personalized services is also the latest in the field.

What are the benefits of ankle replacement surgery?

The following are the main benefits of this joint replacement surgery:

Relief from suffering
Allow you to return to low-impact activities like walking, swimming, riding, and hiking.
Improves ankle range of motion to make them feel more natural Supports other joints near the ankle from becoming diseased or arthritic.

How long will it take to complete the process?

Ankle surgery can take more than two hours in most cases. During the procedure, the patient is either under general or spinal anaesthesia (with a regional nerve block) and feels nothing.

When will I be able to leave the hospital after the treatment?

You will need to stay in the hospital for 1-2 days after the ankle replacement procedure. Prior to release, a plaster splint or boot may be placed over the wound. The doctor will provide you instructions and measures to follow during the healing process.

When will I be able to walk after surgery?

You should not put any weight on the operated foot for a while (non-weight bearing period). In four to six weeks after surgery, many people can walk and begin physical therapy. This is a gradual technique that varies from person to person.

Will I be able to conduct physically demanding activities after ankle replacement surgery?

Yes. The majority of patients are able to engage in low-demand activities such as walking, biking, hiking, and swimming a year after surgery. Participating in high-risk events, such as long-distance running or sports with a significant impact on the ankle, should be avoided. This is because these techniques will shorten the replacement joint's life expectancy.