As we begin this yew year, there are many people wishing for “new feet”. They may have foot pain, a foot deformity, diabetes, or chronic ulcers but they have had enough. It’s time for a change. It’s time for new feet that are pain deformity free.
If you have been told you need foot surgery, you might be overwhelmed by the thought. Having surgery, especially minimally invasive foot surgery is one way to get new feet in this new year. Your podiatrist can perform minimally invasive foot surgery that have more benefits than risks.
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a non-traditional way to treat foot and ankle conditions and deformities using very small (cuts) incisions. In these procedures, a foot and ankle surgeon uses special instruments to cut bones under x-ray guidance. If screws are needed, they are also done through very small incisions.
Your podiatrist would not recommend surgery unless it was his professional opinion that it is the best treatment option for you. You might be able to manage foot pain for a little while. But if you have an underlying issue the pain will only come back and can even cause more damage to your foot.
Many foot problems cause pain in the toes, feet, ankles, and elsewhere in the body. If your foot pain is left untreated, your quality of life will continue to suffer. Foot surgery can be the permanent solution to your foot problems especially if you have diabetes.
Diagnosis
A variety of foot and ankle problems, including bit, toe arthritis, bunions, and hammertoes can be treated with minimally invasive surgery. Importantly, not all patients are good candidates for minimally invasive surgery, and not all surgeons perform minimally invasive surgery. The podiatrist will do x-rays to look at the bones and deformity in the foot before discussing surgery.
Benefits
Hearing the word “surgery” might make you nervous, but compared to traditional foot surgery, minimally invasive surgery is relatively easy and offers many benefits too.
Minimal bleeding and scarring: With traditional surgery, you might endure deep or intrusive cuts that can bleed and cause permanent scars. With minimally invasive surgery, a small incision is made using special instruments similar to what a jeweler would use. There’s little bleeding and scarring, if any.
Less pain and swelling: Because minimally invasive surgery is a minor procedure, you won’t suffer the pain typically associated with traditional surgery.
Fewer complications: Fewer, smaller cuts, less bleeding, and not being put under anesthesia all means there is less of a chance for pain, swelling, infection, and other complications that can arise during and after traditional surgery.
Less downtime: Minimally invasive surgery usually takes only 15 to 20 minutes and requires far less recovery time than traditional surgery. You should be able to walk out of your podiatrist’s office after the procedure and return to your normal activities in about two weeks, depending on how fast your own body typically heals.
The bottom line is minimally invasive foot surgery results in shorter surgical time and exposure, lesser post-operative risk of infection, lesser pain, hospitalization and post-operative recovery time, compared with traditional open approaches. Advantages of minimally invasive surgery over traditional surgery include faster healing, smaller scars, and less stiffness. The main disadvantage is that it takes additional training and practice for your surgeon to feel comfortable performing these procedures without the traditional open visualization.
Recovery
Recovery is often faster from minimally invasive procedures compared to open procedures. Some normal walking or weight-bearing can be allowed immediately after surgery, but this depends on the procedure that was done.
Risks and complications
The risks of minimally invasive surgery are similar to traditional, open surgeries, although the risks of infection and wound healing problems may be lower with minimally invasive surgery because the incisions are so small. While the small incisions used in minimally invasive surgery can make it easier to damage unseen structures like nerves and tendons, research studies have not shown a higher rate of these injuries. With good technique and surgeon experience, these surgeries may even have lower risk compared to open surgeries. More research still needs to be done on these procedures to determine their risks and benefits relative to more traditional surgical methods. If you need foot surgery, consider minimally invasive foot surgery. See a podiatrist and find out if MIS is good for you.
• For more information visit www.everydayhealth.com or www.foothealthfacts.com or email us at foothealth242@gmail.com . To see a podiatrist visit Bahamas Surgical Associates Centre on East Terrace Centreville or call 603-1814/15/16 for an appointment. In Grand Bahama visit Lucayan Medical Center on East Sunrise Highway or call 373-7400 for an appointment.
