Foot surgery is a surgical procedure that treats the disorders of the foot and ankle. Foot and ankle surgeons treat a wide variety of foot and ankle conditions, including fractures, tendon damage, bunions, ankle instability and arthritis. It consists of complex surgical repairs that may be necessary when pain or deformity persists in either of the feet or ankles. The foot itself is a complex structure with 28 bones and more than 30 joints. Therefore, the foot is susceptible to a wide range of disorders, ranging from ligamentous and muscular injuries to compound bone fractures.
Bunionectomy
A bunion is a painful swelling of the small fluid-filled sac at the base of the hallux valgus or big toe, leading to the enlargement and protrusion of the joint. Structural bunions occur when the metatarsophalangeal joint between the metatarsal bones of the foot and the proximal bones of the toes enlarges and thickens. Over time this imbalance in the joint can lead to arthritis. The surgical procedures for the repair of hallux valgus can include resecting the bunion, re-aligning the bones of the toe into their proper positions or improving the muscle balance between the intrinsic and extrinsic toe muscles, according to Georgetown University Hospital.
Calcaneocuboid Fusion
The bone has three major portions, the forefoot, the midfoot and the hindfoot. The hindfoot is composed of four bones and three joints, and links the midfoot to the ankle or talus. The calcaneocuboid procedure involves the fusion of calcaneous, or heel bone, and cuboid bone, one of the seven tarsal bones, of the hindfoot with metal screws. Pins and screws will be attached to the bones so that they stay in proper alignment while they heal together after the fracture. "A tibial bone graft may be taken from your knee area, to be used in conjunction with the screws", according to Georgetown University Hospital.
Cheilectomy
The large joint at the base of the great toe, known as metatarsophalangeal or MTP joint, flexes with every step you take. The cartilage, a usually translucent and somewhat elastic connective tissue, covers the surfaces of the facet joints which provide cushioning to protect the bones from the regular trauma of walking, running or climbing. As the smooth, spongy cartilage of the joint wears down from either "wear and tear", or inflammatory disorders such as lupus, or injury, the bones may rub together during the movement of the joint, causing pain. A bone spur may form. According to Georgetown University Hospital, "Cheilectomy is performed through an incision and the spur removed."
