Orthopedic Feet and Ankle Treatment in Northern Michigan

Your feet and ankles are complex parts of your skeletal system. Orthopedists who are subspecialty trained in foot and ankle care offer you a full understanding of how the entire musculoskeletal system is interconnected. They can treat abnormalities of the hip and knee that may affect the foot and ankle, thereby treating the whole patient, not just one specific area of the body. 

Achilles Tendon Repair

Your Achilles tendon is a large band of tissue in the back of your ankle. The tendon helps you point your foot downward, rise on your toes, and push off when you walk. You use it almost every time you move your leg. But repeated stress can make the tendon more prone to injury. It may become inflamed and develop small tears (tendonitis). A complete tear through the tendon is known as an Achilles tendon rupture.

Ankle Arthroscopy

An ankle arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery that helps find and treat a variety of ankle spurs, including loose bodies, bone spurs, osteochondritis (a small piece of loose bone), and the inflammation of the lining of the ankle joint. 

Ankle Joint Replacement

Thanks to new techniques, ankle replacement may be recommended as an effective option for patients with advanced arthritis, destroyed ankle joint surfaces, or an ankle condition that interferes with daily activities.

Bunion Surgery

A bunion is a bony bump on the outside of the big toe and causes foot pain and swelling. Many bunions can be treated through proper footwear, but more severe, painful bunions may require surgery.

Fractures

Ankle fractures are not uncommon especially when it comes to sports injuries or falls. Treatment for an ankle fracture depends on where the bone is broken and how serious the break is. If needed, the bone is put back into place. This may be done with or without surgery. If surgery is needed, the surgeon may use devices, such as pins, plates, or screws to hold the bone together. Usually, you will wear a splint, brace, boot, or short leg cast to keep the bone in place and protect it from injury during healing. 

Fusions

Fusions join two or more bones in the ankle and are typically done to treat arthritis. Ankle fusion surgery can help stop the pain and improve quality of life. The surgery removes remaining cartilage from the ankle joint. The bones in the joint are then attached together with screws, plates, nails, or other hardware.

Ligament Reconstructions

Lateral ankle ligament reconstruction is a surgery that tightens and firms one or more ligaments on the outside of the ankle. If you have had repeated ankle sprains, or your foot or ankle is shaped differently than a normal foot or ankle, you may experience weakened or loosened ligaments that need treatment. 

Sprains

The ankle is the joint where the leg and foot meet. Bones are held in place by connective tissue called ligaments. When ankle ligaments are stretched to the point of pain and injury, it's called an ankle sprain. A sprain can tear the ligaments. These tears can be very small but still cause pain. Ankle sprains are graded by the amount of ligament damage.

Other services:

• Corrective Osteotomies