My Orthopedic Surgery

Gout is caused by abnormal metabolism of substances called purines that result in the accumulation of uric acid in the blood stream. Purines are a by-product of cell break down. When the excretion of the uric acid is hampered the accumulated uric acid in the blood stream causes crystalline deposits to form in joints or in the soft tissues. When this happens, there is a sudden onset of extreme pain with associated swelling, redness, and increased warmth to the skin or joint.

THE RISKS OF HAVING SURGERY Do you know the risks and benefits of surgery? The purpose of your operation is to decrease pain and improve the function of the foot. In some cases, that involves fusion of parts of the foot and/or tendon transfers. Most of the time the operation goes smoothly and after the operation you recover with no problems. At three months, you will be fully mobile. At six months you should be noticeably better than before the operation. Different people vary in their recovery time; therefore you should not be too concerned about a delay in recovery as long as things are improving. Complications occur in 10% of cases on average. Your particular procedure may have higher risks of complications and your surgeon will advise you of these if they may affect your decisions on surgery. Only you know how the pain that you are suffering affects your lifestyle, so only you can make the decision whether or not to have surgery.

Sesamoid bones are commonly found in and around joints. While sesamoid bones can be found around any joint in the foot, they are consistently found within the joint of the great toe. The great toe joint contains 2 sesamoid bones, the tibial and fibular sesamoids.

Sever's Disease: A Common Cause of Heel Pain

Information on skin problems of the foot and ankle including Malignant Melanoma, Actinic Keratosis, Kaposi's Sarcoma, Venous Stasis and Diabetic Dermopathy.

Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, can be localized to one area or it may be generalized. In the localized type, the most common sites are the palms and soles of the feet.

I am a patient with tarsal coalition. I created this blog to help other patients understand the condition from the patient's point of view. It has simplified anatomy, x-rays, ct-scans, and photography. I track how I am progressing through my recovery from surgery from a practical and emotional standpoint. This is a great resource for patients trying to decide on surgery. It is also a good resource for medical professionals interested in how a patient recovers from foot surgery.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a condition that occurs from abnormal pressure on the posterior tibial nerve. The condition is similar to carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist. The condition is somewhat uncommon, and can be difficult to diagnose.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome is due to compression of a nerve called the Posterior Tibial Nerve.The nerve passes into the foot from around the inside of the ankle just below the ankle bone. Just beyond this point, the nerve enters the foot by passing between a muscle and a bone in the foot. This area is called the Tarsal Tunnel.

DEFINITIONS & PROCEDURES Tendon Transfers A tendon transfer involves release of one end of a tendon from bone or soft tissue and its reattachment to another bone or tendon. A tendon transfer is used when a muscle or group of muscles are weak, torn or paralyzed. The transfer can correct: a flat foot, high arch, clawed toes, a drop foot or a weak heel cord (Achilles Tendon).

The term "ischemic foot" refers to a lack of adequate arterial blood flow from the heart to the foot. There are a wide variety of possible causes for poor arterial circulation into the foot including arterial blockage from cholesterol deposits, arterial blood clots, arterial spasm, or arterial injury.

Various painful toe conditions and treatments. Curled toes, overlapping & underlapping toes, mallet toe, hammertoe

Activities such as football, basketball, soccer, field hockey and lacrosse show the high incidence of injury to the great toe joint on artificial surfaces.

Ulcerations are a result of a break down of the skin. Ulcerations are classified based upon their depth and their cause. Common ulcerations are due to diabetes, ischemia (poor circulation), and venous stasis (varicose veins).

Musculoskeletal ultrasonography is a very powerful diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of wide array of foot and ankle problems. Your physician may order an ultrasound or perform the ultrasound in their office to help diagnose your foot problem.