What are foot and ankle treatments?

Foot and ankle treatments are surgeries and procedures to treat several conditions and injuries affecting the feet and ankles. The foot and ankle is a complex area containing bones, ligaments, tendons, nerves and muscles. Amazingly, these components come together to form 33 joints. Treating problems with any of these structures can involve ankle, foot or toe surgery.

Common types of foot and ankle treatments include:

  • Ankle arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical method of diagnosing and treating many ankle symptoms and problems from torn or weak ligaments to fractures.
  • Ankle replacement surgery removes a diseased or damaged joint and replaces it with an artificial joint.
  • Foot and ankle fracture and dislocation treatment may be necessary when a bone in the ankle is dislocated out of place or part of the bone has broken off.
  • Foot and ankle ligament and tendon reconstruction including Achilles tendon surgery repairs or reconstructs torn or weak ligaments.

Why are surgical foot and ankle treatments performed?

For some conditions, a foot specialist—a podiatrist—will first try to resolve the problem with nonsurgical foot and ankle treatments, such as a course of physical therapy. When nonsurgical foot and ankle pain treatments aren’t enough, your doctor may recommend surgery to relieve pain. Surgery is also necessary to correct physical problems with any of the foot or ankle structures. The general treatment goals are to improve ankle or foot function, reduce disability, and improve your quality of life.

Common foot and ankle conditions that may require surgery include:

  • Acute injuries including fractures, dislocations, torn cartilage, and ligament or tendon tears
  • Bone spurs
  • Degenerative joint disease including arthritis
  • Inflammatory forms of arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis
  • Overuse injuries including plantar fasciitis
  • Synovitis, which is inflammation of the lining of the joint
  • Unexplained ankle or foot symptoms including pain; foot and ankle swelling; and joint locking, catching or grinding