11 different types of foot surgeries

Types of Common Foot Surgeries

No one wants to have to deal with a foot surgery. The fact is, our feet can tell us a lot about our health. When it comes to treatment options for most injuries and maladies, surgery is understandably considered a last resort.

We are NOT doctors, podiatrists or surgeons. This website is for people who have issues with the appearance of their feet.  It’s about learning to love what you have, or ways you can improve your appearance from the ankle down!

If you’re someone who struggles with how your feet look, and suffer from perpetual ailments and pains in your feet, your doctor or podiatrist may suggest you consider the necessity of surgery in certain cases.

11 Different Types of Foot Surgeries

There are many different types of foot surgeries all designed to directly target specific issues that may involve cosmetics. From bunion removal to the go-to-any-lengths pretty feet surgery (or Cinderella surgery), there are as many surgeries as there are foot issues. In this article we list 11 of the most common procedures just to shed some light on them.

1. Bunions

Bunions are bony lumps found at the base of the big toe, and are deformities of the joint connecting the big toe to the rest of the foot. This occurs when the big toe bends towards the other toes, causing the bump that forms at its base to become red and painful. Bunions are usually caused by wearing shoes that force your toes into unnatural positions for extended periods of time, as the pressure on the joint causes it to extend past the regular shape of the foot.

If you’re afraid of what this might mean, don’t be! Bunions are extremely common, and though they’re something many people live with, it doesn’t mean you have to. If the pain caused by your bunions is starting to impede with your ability to go about your day-to-day routines, then it might be time to consider bunion removal.

The bunion is a condition that affects both the foot and toes, and there are different types of foot surgeries for different types of bunions.  It can be treated with bunion removal surgery, where doctors will cut joint surfaces to realign them in their normal positions! There are three types: an osteotomy (cutting), exostectomy (removing parts without changing anything) and arthrodesis where the damaged joint is replaced with screws or metal plates.

Recovery time for this procedure can be about six to eight weeks, with a complete recovery time of four to six months. Wearing wide or comfortable shoes will ease the process and help you transition into putting weight back on the feet, as well as act as a preventive measure from future bunions.

2. Fusion Hammertoes

Similar to bunions, hammertoes are caused by wearing ill-fitting shoes, a case of arthritis, having an unusually high foot arch, or even by bunions themselves. The difference is that the toe curls upwards at the joint, lending the appearance of a hammer. Although hammertoes may be present at birth, like bunions, they usually develop over time.

In the early stages, while the joint of your toe is still flexible, you can attempt to rectify hammertoes by wearing loose footwear and padding your shoes with toe cushions. However, once the joint has grown rigid in its position, what follows next is usually surgery.

The most common form of hammertoe surgery is called a fusion procedure. In this procedure, the attending surgeon removes portions of the joint to allow the bones to grow back together. This will eventually straighten the toe and reduce pain. They will then use pins to keep the joints in place, which will allow the bones to fuse.

Following this surgery, expect swelling to last up to a year. It’s also important to remember that those who have had hammertoes are at risk of developing it again, so it would be wise to invest in regularly practicing exercises that will strengthen the toe and foot muscles, as well as proper footwear.

3. Heel Spurs

Pain from heel spurs

Heel spurs are bony growths that start at the front of the heel bone and extend towards the arch. Some people with heel spurs may not even realize they have them, as heel spurs tend to cause pain only in conjunction with other foot conditions. They are a result of excessive strain or friction to the heel bone, such as running, jogging, wearing the wrong shoes, having flat feet or an overly high arch, or as a side effect of arthritis.

Surgery for heel spurs can be performed using several different methods, depending on the severity of your condition. The first surgery to consider is releasing the plantar fascia. This surgery involves making a small incision in order to cut the ligament that connects the bottom of your foot to your heel bone. Releasing this ligament relieves pressure on the plantar fascia and may reduce pain and inflammation.

Another surgery for heel spurs is removing the heel spur entirely through small incisions near its base. To perform this surgery, called open surgical decompression, your doctor will make four to five small incisions where they will remove any bony growths caused by calcium deposits along the bones within your feet. These incisions are made in order to enable the area to heal.

Surgery may not always be necessary for relieving pain from a heel spur. You doctor may recommend using custom orthotics or insoles as a first step. These insoles help support your feet and distribute weight more evenly across the surface of your foot, which reduces pressure on any single spot and can provide some relief from pain and discomfort.

4. Metatarsalgia (Foot Pain)

Metatarsalgia surgery is a surgery that is recommended when conservative treatments, such as orthotics and pain medications, have failed to relieve the pain. The surgery is done by making an incision in the top of the foot and removing the metatarsal head, which is the bone that is causing the pain.

There are three types of surgery that are used to treat metatarsalgia:

  1. If the pain stems from a protruding metatarsal head, an osteotomy of the affected metatarsal is performed. This surgery involves sawing off part of the bone so there is less pressure on surrounding tissues.
  2. Another surgery that can be done is resection arthroplasty surgery, which removes all or part of the first metatarsal head and replaces it with a metallic implant.
  3. Or lastly, if arthritis on the ball of the foot has developed, then surgery called fusion arthrodesis is done where an incision is made on top of the foot and some bones are removed or fused together.

A thorough review of literature showed good clinical evidence of surgery for metatarsalgia. However, surgery should be limited to patients who have had symptoms for more than 3 months and surgery should only be done on feet that are completely flat.

5. Surgery for Ingrown Toenails

There are a few reasons why someone might need surgery for an ingrown toenail. One reason is if the ingrown toenail has become infected. Another reason is if the ingrown toenail is causing pain and discomfort. The surgery for an ingrown toenail usually involves removing the ingrown toenail and then stitching up the wound. The surgery for an ingrown toenail is done under local anesthesia.

There are a few different surgery options that can be used in surgery for an ingrown toenail.

Sometimes surgery is done with a laser and sometimes surgery is done with a scalpel. These days surgery for an ingrown toenail usually involves removing the nail by making an opening on either side of the nail and then removing all or part of the ingrown portion of the nail. The surgery then involves stitching up the two openings and putting some sort of dressing onto the wound so as to keep it clean as it heals.

The amount of healing time required after surgery for an ingrown toenail depends on where exactly on the toe surgery was performed, as well as how much tissue needed to be removed from around the ingrown portion of the nail. At times surgery on an ingrown toenail will involve removing only the section of the nail that is growing into the skin. If surgery for an ingrown toenail involves removing more than just this small portion, then it could take up to 6 weeks before surgery for an ingrown toenail can be performed.

This surgery option is called the partial matricectomy. This surgery is generally used in cases where there needs to be some sort of removal of part of the matricectomy, but not all of it. Surgery for ingrown toenails using a laser usually involves using carbon dioxide or neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers in surgery for ingrown toenails. With surgery using a laser, the surgeon will usually make two small incisions in surgery for an ingrown toenail and then use a laser beam to remove part of the matricectomy. This surgery is chosen by many doctors over other surgery options because it can be done with little pain and it does not usually leave behind scars or stitches.

6. Morton’s Neuroma

Morton’s neuroma is a condition characterized by a pain or uncomfortable sensation on the ball of your foot, usually between the third and fourth toes. The feeling has been likened to walking around with a pebble inside your shoe, and can be understandably inconvenient. It happens due to the thickening of the tissues around one of the nerves leading to your toes. There are no outward signs of this disorder, and it is usually diagnosed through X-ray or ultrasound.

Some people find that injecting steroids into the affected area reduces the pain, but if this non-invasive treatment proves ineffective, decompression surgery is the next solution. In this procedure, the surgeon relieves pressure on the nerve by cutting into the ligament that binds the foot bones. In certain cases, removal of the nerve itself may be more effective if there is no difference in the pain. While surgeries like this are usually successful, they can also result in some numbness in the toes.

It can take up to six weeks to be able to return to regular sporting activities after a Morton’s neuroma surgery, but be sure to check in with your physician if your foot stays swollen for longer.

7. Tendon Repair

surgery for tendon repair

The foot is made up of many different tendons which connect muscles deep within each part of the foot. Damage to these tendons can cause issues with walking, standing, or performing other normal activities. When damage is severe, it can be painful and is often hard to heal on its own.

Foot tendon surgery is a common procedure that doctors use to repair foot tendons when they have been damaged. A tendon injury can happen in many different ways such as from fractures near the joints, impact injuries, or even by simply wearing shoes with very little support. The most common injuries occur due to overuse and sports related activities.

Repairing a muscle is quite complicated. Tendons are much simpler to fix. There are two basic steps in repairing a tendon: stitching the torn ends together and immobilizing them so that they can heal without any movement.

Most doctors know how to do these repairs, but there is controversy in how best to treat these injuries . It is known that treatment should start within 12 hours after injury occurs, or it may take several days for symptoms to start (the “gray zone”). Also, surgery should only be done when all other treatments (like braces) have failed; otherwise, surgery may fail too .

8. Cosmetic Foot Surgery (Pretty Feet Surgery)

Cosmetic foot surgery, also known as Cinderella surgery, is a type of surgery that is done to enhance the beauty of the feet. This type of aesthetic  surgery is not necessarily done to fix or repair any medical or structural problems, but instead to improve the appearance of the feet. Some common procedures performed during cosmetic foot surgery include lengthening or shortening of the toes, shaving off bunions and bones, or removing lumps to slim down the toes and feet.

While cosmetic foot surgery is not necessary for most people, there are some who may benefit from it. For example, people with unusually large or small feet may want to consider cosmetic foot surgery in order to achieve a more proportional look. Additionally, those with bony prominences on the front of their feet that are causing discomfort may also want to consider surgery.

If you are considering cosmetic foot surgery, chances are high that you have already consulted with your doctor about any medical or structural problems that you may have. If there are no physical problems being caused by your feet, then cosmetic surgery is not necessary. It should only be performed if it will improve your quality of life or make you more comfortable while doing everyday activities. Cosmetic foot surgery is not covered by insurance companies and can cost several thousand dollars per procedure. However, some doctors offer discounts if multiple procedures are done at once (such as both bunion removal and toe shortening).

9. Skin Surgery

If you’re experiencing any pain or discomfort from any surface growths on your feet, it’s best to seek medical attention. In some cases, surgery may be the best option for removing the growth. During surgery, your foot will be given a local anesthetic so that you won’t feel any pain. The surgeon will then remove the growth from your foot. Recovery time after surgery will vary depending on the size and growth of the surface issue, but it’s likely that you’ll need to take a few days off of work to allow your foot to heal properly.

After surgery, bandages and a splint will be placed on your foot to keep it in place. You’ll likely have stitches that will need to stay in for several weeks after the surgery is complete. It will take six weeks or more before you can remove them.

10. Ankle Surgery

More often than not, sprained ankles arise as a result of an accidental twist of the foot or a clumsy fall, but can also be the product of a sports-related injury. Pain and swelling in the ankle is either due to osteoarthritis, in which the cartilage covering the bone ends thin out and the bone underneath thickens, or rheumatoid arthritis resulting from a previous injury. If you have a mild case of arthritis, pain medication, special shoes, and physical therapy may help. But if severe symptoms and inflammation persist, you may have to undergo an ankle fusion.

Ankle fusions are done when a surgeon fuses the bones of the ankle into one piece in order to stop the pain and swelling. This is accomplished through a small incision in the joints used to compress the bones together with nails and screws to keep them in place.

Following an ankle fusion, your leg will likely be kept in a brace for a few weeks. You will also need to undergo several follow up X-rays to check on how well the tissues are reconnecting. Physical therapy is another means to rebuild strength and stability in the ankle area, and following through with all the necessary exercises will enable you to return to the field or the gym in no time.

11. Achilles Tendon Disorder

Achilles tendon surgery is a common surgical procedure that is used to repair damage to the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest tendon in the body, and it connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It is responsible for helping us to walk, run, and jump.

Achilles tendon surgery is performed using a variety of techniques, including open surgery, percutaneous surgery, and mini-incision surgery. In most cases, the surgeon will make a small incision in the back of the ankle, and then use special instruments to repair the damaged tendon.

Recovery from Achilles tendon surgery can take several months, and patients usually wear a cast for several weeks . Full recovery can take up to 6 months, and in some cases it may require more than 1 year.

Avoiding Foot Problems

Although different types of foot surgeries can correct many problems, the ideal solution is to take care of your feed to avoid issues. Particularly as we age, our feet change, and the same shoes we wore at 20 are no longer appropriate, or safe to wear at 40, 50, or 60.

How can you avoid foot problems…and surgery? Take care of your feet.