The feet and ankles play a major role in helping you get around—they hold you up and absorb the impact when you walk. They have many different components, including 26 bones, to accomplish all that. That’s a quarter of all the bones in the entire body! Along with those bones, the feet and ankles also contain 33 joints and more than 100 tendons and ligaments.
When even one of those parts is injured, it can cause pain and other disruptive symptoms. If you experience a foot or ankle injury, you can rely on Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Orthopedic Surgery for a diagnosis and treatment plan to get you on the path to healing.
What conditions affect the feet and ankles?
- Achilles tendonitis
- Achilles tendon tears or rupture
- Ankle sprains
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Foot or ankle fractures, including stress fractures
- Gout
- Heel fractures
- Overuse injuries
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tendonitis
- Toe fractures
How are foot & ankle conditions diagnosed?
If you’re experiencing pain or other symptoms in a foot or ankle, your provider will first ask you to explain the symptoms you’re experiencing, including where you feel those symptoms. Based on that information, an orthopedic surgeon will perform a thorough physical exam.
Imaging scans, including X-rays, MRI, CT scans or ultrasound, may be used to confirm a diagnosis or determine the severity of an injury.
What are the types of foot & ankle surgery?
While many conditions can be treated with basic, at-home care or nonsurgical treatment options such as anti-inflammatory medications or physical therapy, others may require surgery. The specific type of surgery varies depending on the condition being treated.
Foot and ankle surgeries include:
Achilles tendon repair surgery
While mild to moderate Achilles tendon tears may respond to cast treatment, surgery is often recommended particularly for active or young people. During this surgical procedure, the torn parts of the tendon are stitched back together.
Ankle arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the joints. An orthopedic surgeon can scope the ankle joint during an ankle arthroscopy and make repairs when needed.
Fracture repair
Surgery may be recommended to repair fractures of the feet or ankle that are severe or that don’t respond to other treatments in a timely manner. During a fracture repair, an orthopedic surgeon places metal screws, pins or plates into the foot or ankle to provide structural support and hold bones in place as they heal.
Total ankle replacement
When an ankle joint is affected by arthritis, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, it can cause inflammation-related pain and swelling. Ankle replacement may be an option when this becomes disruptive and limits normal movement. During this procedure, damaged parts of the ankle joint are removed and replaced with artificial components.
Choose NGPG for foot & ankle surgery
Foot or ankle pain can be a real pain. In fact, it can be a major life disruption since it makes it more difficult to move around normally. If you’re experiencing pain in your foot or ankle, we’re here to help.
NGPG Orthopedic Surgery specialists have years of experience performing procedures to treat conditions of the feet and ankles. This includes treatment for acute injuries, such as fractures, as well as the effects of degenerative conditions like arthritis.
Foot and ankle surgeries are performed in surgical suites at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, which are equipped with advanced technology and imaging tools. These innovations allow us to provide patients with the high-quality care needed to get them back on their feet and move normally again.
