Introduction
When alternative conservative, non-surgical therapeutic options fall short in reducing the signs and symptoms of the illness, surgery is typically the last resort. However, depending on the treatment, the major benefits of foot and ankle surgery include long-lasting pain alleviation, improved function and mobility, and a wider selection of comfortable shoes to enhance the appearance of the feet.
What Are the Most Common Foot and Ankle Conditions That Might Need Surgery?
Below are the most common foot and ankle conditions that might need surgery if the conservative therapy options fail to cure or reduce the signs and symptoms.
-
Subtalar Arthritis or Ankle Arthritis: Arthritis symptoms include swelling and pain in one or more joints. The basic indications of arthritis are stiffness and pain in the joints. Surgery can be necessary for some arthritis sufferers. Surgery for arthritis can aid in repairing or replacing a damaged joint. By doing this, it can ease discomfort and enhance the performance of the damaged joint.
-
Peroneal Tendon Split or Tear or Sprain or Tibialis Posterior Disorder: The signs and symptoms of a tear include pain in the lower leg and/or ankle, swelling, weakness or instability, and warmth in the affected region. Complete tears will require surgery, especially if the patient wants to get back to normal activities.
-
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: Injuries to the tibial nerve lead to tarsal tunnel syndrome. A tunnel made up of bones and ligaments in the ankle called the tarsal tunnel contains the tibial nerve. An incision will be made from the rear of the ankle to the arch of the foot during tarsal tunnel release surgery. The ligament will subsequently be severed by a surgeon to prevent compression of the tibial nerve.
-
Bunions: A bunion is a bony growth that develops on the big toe joint. It happens when a few of the bones in the foot's front shift out of position. Because the joint at the base of the big toe is pushed to protrude due to the pointed tip of the big toe pulled in the direction of the smaller toes. If people with bunions experience persistent discomfort or severe foot pain that worsens when they walk or wear flat, comfortable shoes, they could require bunion surgery.
-
Plantar Fasciitis: It is an inflammation of the plantar fascia on the base of the feet. The plantar fascia may usually be separated from the heel bone without surgery. It is often only a possibility when other therapies have failed and the pain is really bad. Open surgery or a minor incision with local anesthetic are also options.
-
Hammer Toes: A second, third, or fourth toe malformation is known as a hammer toe. In this instance, the middle joint of the toe is bent, giving it the appearance of a hammer. At first, hammer toes may be healed using non-invasive methods since they are flexible. However, if left untreated, they can become fixed and require surgery.
-
Morton's Neuroma: Morton's neuroma is a painful ailment that often affects the region between the third and fourth toes on the ball of the foot. The foot's inflamed or injured nerve is surrounded by thickened tissue. Although Morton's neuroma is treatable, if it is not attended to right once, irreparable nerve damage may result. The healthcare provider may suggest minimally invasive surgery if conservative measures are not sufficiently relieving the discomfort.
What Are the Latest Advancements in Surgical Treatments for Foot and Ankle Conditions?
-
Ankle Arthroscopy: Ankle arthroscopy is a type of surgery where the tissues within or around the ankle are examined or repaired using a small camera and surgical equipment. People can go home the same day as the procedure, and the likelihood of complications is low. An ankle arthroscopy is less traumatic for the body than other types of surgery because the incisions needed are significantly smaller than those needed for other types of surgery — often less than half an inch wide. Ankle arthroscopy (AA) is now a well-recognized medical procedure and a crucial tool in the arsenal of foot and ankle surgeons. Using a minimally invasive approach, it may be utilized as a diagnostic tool and a therapeutic tool in the same session. Scopy is a useful tool for treating a variety of diseases, including the high occurrence of chondral lesions and other intra-articular abnormalities following ankle fractures. Clear visualization and evaluation of related ligamentous and syndesmotic lesions are made possible by arthroscopy. It is possible that medial ankle ligament injury contributes to the pathophysiology of chronic ankle instability, which helps to better understand the problem and improve the treatment plans.
-
Stem Cell Therapy and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: Firstly, a prolotherapy injection is given two days before the stem cell procedure in order to activate the healing response before infusing stem cells. A basic prolotherapy injection consists of dextrose (sugar) and water solution, occasionally with the addition of safe additives such as vitamins, which can be used to temporarily boost inflammation and trigger the body's own healing process. The stem cells are then prepared by drawing adipose tissue. It is often extracted from the hip or stomach. After separating the stem cells from the other fat components, the stem cells are put into a syringe and injected into the area or affected joint within a few hours. A platelet-rich plasma injection is administered to help in the healing process after three months and six months. Blood platelets are drawn out and put back into the wound site instead of stem cells.
-
Robotic Technology: Research shows that robots are ideally suited for orthopedic-specific issues, such as greater reduction precision during bone fixation, cleaner surface preparation during joint arthroplasty, and enhanced spatial accuracy, even if robotic surgery is still in its infancy. Deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI) have become useful tools in foot and ankle surgery for picture categorization and fracture identification. Robotic surgery advancements for total knee and complete hip arthroplasty have shown promising clinical results.
Conclusion
These emerging technologies and new medical advancements are being deployed in healthcare for the enhancement of better healthcare quality and delivery. The researchers are paying close attention to the deployment of these technologies in healthcare. Especially, for improving and preserving the function of the limbs, these latest medical advancements are fortunes in this era.
