5 Horrifying (Yet Rare) Halloween Foot and Ankle Problems

In the spirit of Halloween, we at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists figured we’d share 5 truly rare foot and ankle issues that very few people have experienced.

Gangrene and Amputation

We’re starting off spooky with a severe outcome for the foot: Gangrene, AKA tissue death. This crisis can be caused by extreme tissue damage following severe crush injuries (like from an industrial accident or heavy machinery), where blood vessels are immediately destroyed and the tissue quickly dies.

Amputation, which can range from a toe to a partial foot, then become necessary to stop the spread of dead tissue and infection, which ultimately saves the patient’s life from systemic poisoning. Sounds great, right?

Necrotizing Fasciitis

A terrifying emergency, Necrotizing Fasciitis, which is often mistakenly called “flesh-eating bacteria,” is a rare but devastating infection. It occurs when a highly aggressive, opportunistic bacteria enters your body, often through a deep puncture wound (like stepping on a rusty nail or a piece of glass) or an open wound.

The infection then spreads rapidly and destroys soft tissue, including the plantar fascia. This demands immediate and aggressive surgical removal of the dead tissue to prevent the infection from consuming the limb and becoming fatal. Plantar Fasciitis doesn’t sound too bad now!

Charcot Foot

Acute Charcot foot is a devastating structural collapse of the foot and ankle. This can happen from a very rare complication of nerve damage, such as syringomyelia (a cyst within the spinal cord) or leprosy.

Due to the loss of protective sensation, bones can fracture with minimal trauma. So you continue to walk on the broken bones, which leads to joint destruction and a quick, profound deformity known as a rocker-bottom foot.

Compartment Syndrome

If you sustain a bad crushing injury, bleeding and swelling within the foot’s compartments cause pressure to build up rapidly, which cuts off oxygen to the muscles and nerves.

This is a true vascular emergency requiring immediate surgery to relieve the pressure and prevent permanent tissue death.

Osteomyelitis

When a deep foot wound or trauma leads to a persistent infection, that infection can track into the bone structure of the foot, which is what we call Osteomyelitis.

This is a severe, chronic infection that is extremely difficult to kill and prevent from spreading to other parts of the foot.

Some people require amputation due to Osteomyelitis.

The Good News

All of these foot conditions are extremely rare! Especially when you have a team like us at DPMS taking care of you. Happy Halloween!

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!