Our foot and ankle doctors are dedicated to finding the right treatment for each individual patient, and try to avoid surgical intervention unless we feel it is the best option. No two patients or surgeries are exactly alike, and we carefully address any current health problems, underlying conditions, and potential effects of a procedure before recommending surgery. In cases where surgery is necessary, our foot surgeons have the experience and training not just to perform the procedure, but to ensure that each patient receives the follow-up care necessary to provide long-term relief.
Our Podiatrists Perform Foot and Ankle Surgery for Long-Lasting Results
At Greater Washington Advanced Podiatry, our podiatrists are dedicated to getting you back on your feet with as little discomfort—and as few complications—as possible. If you have suffered a sudden ankle injury or been coping with a chronic foot condition for too long, our podiatry team can advise you on both your non-invasive and surgical options. Simply fill out our contact form or call us at (301) 515-3338 and we will be in touch with you shortly to set up your free initial consultation.
Common Foot Surgeries Performed
Some of the most common surgical procedures we perform include:
- Bunion surgery. A bunion is a deformity of the big toe joint caused by pointed shoes or tight footwear. As ill-fitting shoes force the big toe to bend toward the other toes, a lump forms on the outside of the big toe joint. Over time, a callus forms due to increased pressure and rubbing against the shoe, causing pain that makes walking and standing difficult. The same condition may develop on the opposite side of the foot at the base of the little toe, sometimes called a tailor’s bunion or bunionette. Surgery for bunions commonly involves an osteotomy, which is a straightening of the big toe and the metatarsals.
- Ankle arthroscopy. Ankle arthroscopy is a surgical procedure used to diagnose the cause of pain, swelling, tenderness, or weakness in the ankle and repair any damage. Surgery involves a small incision and an instrument called an arthroscope, a tube with a light on the end that is inserted in the ankle and projects an image onto a TV monitor. Arthroscopy makes it possible to correct many different ankle problems without the long hospital stays, extended healing times, and high expenses associated with inpatient surgery.
- Morton’s neuroma. Morton’s neuroma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor that forms on a nerve on the bottom surface of the foot. It may feel like you constantly have a pebble in your shoe, or as if your socks are bunching up under your foot. As the neuroma grows, patients may suffer severe pain in the ball of the foot, as well as “pins and needles” or numbness in the toes. Surgery for Morton's neuroma usually involves the removal of the nerve that is causing pain.
- Tarsal tunnel release. Tarsal tunnel syndrome is to the feet what carpal tunnel syndrome is to the wrist: the compression of a nerve that causes extreme pain. The main nerve serving the foot (the posterior tibial nerve) is located between the ankle bone on one side and a band of fibrous tissue (the flexor retinaculum) on the other. As the nerve runs through this narrow tunnel between two hard surfaces, it may become inflamed, causing heel pain, numbness, or tingling. In severe cases, patients may benefit from a procedure called tarsal tunnel release to stretch the ligament and relieve pressure on the nerve.
Our Maryland podiatrists have offices in Germantown and Silver Spring. Our West Virginia podiatrists have an office in Greenbrier. We make it convenient for our patients to get the help they need as quickly and painlessly as possible. Call our office today at (301) 515-3338 or fill out our contact form to get learn more about footcare interventions and treatments. Should a surgery be necessary, we will take care of the procedure, as well.