7 Foot Conditions That Might Require Surgery

For many foot and ankle conditions, conservative treatments like orthotics, physical therapy, and medication provide enough relief. But sometimes, between the structural problems and persistent pain, they simply don’t cut it. The last (but often most effective) resort is surgery, which is an option we at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists have plenty of experience exercising for our patients. Stick around to find out if your specific foot problem needs surgery.

Bunions

Since bunions cause the big toe to drift inward, surgery, typically a bunionectomy, involves various maneuvers to cut and realign the bone back to its natural position.

We consider bunion surgery when conservative measures like wider shoes and padding fail to relieve persistent pain, the deformity significantly impacts daily activities, causes severe pain, or leads to secondary problems like hammertoes.

Hammertoes

Hammertoes cause the toe to bend abnormally at the middle joint. Simply, surgical correction involves removing or fusing those joints if these bends are severe enough. That means if the toes become rigid, cause painful corns or calluses that don’t respond to padding or shoe changes, or if they dislocate and prevent you from walking freely.

Heel Spurs

While the heel spur itself is rarely the cause of pain, chronic plantar fasciitis often presents with one. A plantar fasciotomy is considered only for severe, persistent heel pain that has not responded to physical therapy, orthotics, or injections. However, the surgery aims to release tension in the fascia, not necessarily remove the spur.

Toenail Damage

For severe, recurring toenail problems, surgical intervention might be necessary. This includes removing part of or the whole nail for chronic ingrown toenails with reoccurring infection.

Permanently removing the nail-growing cells may also be performed to prevent future ingrown nails or for severe, persistent fungal infections resistant to other treatments or significant nail deformities that have been causing pain.

Neuroma

For a pesky case of Morton’s neuroma, removing or decompressing the affected nerves is an option when standard therapies don’t alleviate the pain, numbness, and tingling.

Tendon Rupture

Tendon ruptures (especially complete tears of major tendons like the Achilles or posterior tibial tendon) often require surgery to restore function. Procedures like Achilles tendon or posterior tibial tendon repair involve stitching the torn ends of the tendon together or using a graft. Timeliness is always critical for these surgeries to ensure optimal healing and prevent long-term disability.

Amputation

From toe amputation to partial foot amputation, these are performed to prevent the spread of severe, uncontrolled infection (common in diabetic foot complications or gangrene) or to remove non-viable tissue after severe trauma where the limb cannot be saved.

If you’re experiencing foot pain, discomfort, or changes in how you walk, come see the expert team at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists. With locations in Tucson and Oro Valley areas of Pima County, Arizona, Bradley A. Whitaker, D.P.M., FACFAS, Peter C. Merrill, D.P.M., AACFAS, and Zeno Pfau, D.P.M., are here for you. Call us at (520) 575-0800 or contact us online!