Foot and Ankle Surgery

Foot and ankle surgery is an orthopedic subspecialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of bone, joint, tendon, and nerve issues that affect walking and balance. Foot and ankle surgery aims to reduce pain, enhance function, and improve quality of life through early diagnosis and personalized planning.

What is Foot and Ankle Surgery?

Foot and ankle surgery offers comprehensive treatment for problems related to trauma, degeneration, congenital deformities, and sports injuries. This field includes a broad range of approaches, from conservative treatments to advanced reconstructive surgery.

Recognizing symptoms and early warnings quickly helps prevent permanent joint damage and long-term pain.

• Foot or ankle pain that increases while walking or running
• Swelling, redness, increased heat
• Stiffness, morning rigidity, limited range of motion
• Catching, locking, or instability (feeling of “giving way”)
• Stabbing pain in the heel, burning/numbness in the forefoot, or a deformity (hallux valgus, etc.)

Risk Factors

Knowing the risk factors is guiding for prevention and early consultation.

• Overuse, repetitive activities, and inappropriate footwear
• Obesity, diabetes, rheumatic diseases
• Biomechanical problems like flat feet (pes planus) or high arches (pes cavus)
• Smoking and inadequate muscle–tendon flexibility
• Previous fractures/dislocations, ligament tears, and sports injuries

Common Foot and Ankle Problems

Recognizing common problems helps you quickly access the correct treatment.

• Ankle sprain and chronic instability
• Achilles tendinitis and partial/complete rupture
• Plantar fasciitis (heel spur)
• Hallux valgus (bunion), hallux rigidus
• Hammer toe, claw toe deformities
• Posterior tibialis insufficiency, flatfoot
• Stress fractures, osteochondral lesions
• Nerve entrapments (tarsal tunnel) and neuromas (Morton’s neuroma)

Diagnostic Methods

Diagnostic methods clarify the source of the pain, allowing for the planning of accurate and safe treatment.

• Detailed history, physical examination, gait and foot pressure analysis
• X-ray to assess bone alignment and joint space
• Ultrasound and MRI to visualize ligament, tendon, and cartilage structures
• CT, laboratory tests, and foot pressure analysis in necessary cases

Treatment Options

Treatment options are planned step-by-step according to the severity of the complaint, activity level, and your goals.

Conservative Approaches

Conservative approaches aim to reduce the need for surgery and support healing.

• Activity modification, Rest–Ice–Compression–Elevation (RICE)
• Orthotics, inserts (orthotic biomechanical corrections), and appropriate shoe selection
• Physical therapy, manual therapy, balance–proprioception exercises
• Anti-inflammatory medications, topical treatments
• Injection (corticosteroid/PRP, etc.) in selected cases*

Surgical Approaches

Surgical approaches are considered in cases resistant to conservative methods or those with significant structural deformities.

• Arthroscopic procedures (intra-articular loose bodies, ligament repair, impingement)
• Ligament reconstructions (chronic ankle instability)
• Osteotomies and joint alignment corrections
• Surgery for hallux valgus, hammer toe, and forefoot deformities
• Tendon repairs/transfers, procedures for heel spurs
• Arthrodesis (joint fusion) in advanced arthritis, or prosthesis in selected cases

* Treatments are planned according to your physician’s indication; not every procedure may be suitable for everyone.

Surgical Preparation and Recovery

Knowing the steps for surgical preparation and recovery reduces the risk of complications and shortens the return-to-activity process.

• Pre-operative: Imaging, lab work, optimization of chronic diseases, quitting smoking
• Post-operative: Pain control, wound care, ice and elevation, weight-bearing protocol
• Rehabilitation: Gradual range of motion, strengthening, balance–proprioception training
• Return to work/sport: Within weeks–months depending on the type of operation, with physician approval

Ergonomics and Lifestyle Recommendations

Ergonomics and lifestyle adjustments prevent recurrence and increase treatment effectiveness.

• Weight management and regular low-impact exercise (swimming, cycling, walking)
• Sports shoes appropriate for the surface and activity, timely replacement of worn soles
• Workplace ergonomics: Breaks during long periods of standing, stretching routines
• Daily check for foot care, early management of calluses–nail issues

Home care and exercises support professional treatment, speeding up recovery.

• Stretching and strengthening that does not provoke excessive pain (calf–Achilles, peroneal, posterior tibialis)
• Proprioception exercises on a balance cushion
• Ice applications for 10–15 minutes during the acute phase, elevation
• Warm-up before long walks/runs, cool-down–stretching routine afterward

When Should You See a Doctor?

Knowing when to see a doctor is critical for preventing progressive damage. Orthopedic evaluation is necessary in cases of sudden swelling and deformity, **inability to bear weight**, pain that wakes you up at night, redness accompanied by fever, persistent pain after trauma, or numbness.