Treatments of the Ankle

Percutaneous Achilles tendon lengthening in a procedure used to stretch a tight Achilles tendon and increase motion at the ankle joint.

A peroneus longus (PL) to Achilles tendon transfer is done to restore strength across the ankle joint. Strength may have been lost due to an injury to the Achilles tendon or a neurological disorder. Also, patients with Achilles tendon pain that has not improved from non-surgical treatment may benefit from this transfer. Other tendons (such as the tendon to the big toe or lesser toes) may be…

The tibia (shin bone) and the fibula are the bones of the lower leg. Pilon fractures are injuries that occur at the lower end of the tibia and involve the weightbearing surface of the ankle joint. The fibula also may be broken. These injuries were first described more than 100 years ago and remain one of the most challenging problems for orthopaedic surgeons to treat. Common causes of pilon…

Posterior ankle endoscopy/arthroscopy is a technique used to look at and treat problems in the back of the ankle. 

First, it’s important to understand ankle anatomy. The ankle joint is the joint between the lower leg bones (tibia and fibula) and the ankle bone (talus). The joint below the ankle joint is called the subtalar joint; it lies between the ankle bone and the heel bone (…

The subtalar joint is located just below the ankle joint between the talus and the calcaneus (heel bone). The main job of the subtalar joint is to allow for side-to-side movement of the foot and ankle. This movement aids in walking, especially on uneven surfaces.

When there is a problem in the subtalar joint, the location of pain is described as being deep. The exact location may be…

The subtalar joint is located just below the ankle joint between the talus and the calcaneus (heel bone). The main job of the subtalar joint is to allow for side-to-side movement of the foot and ankle. This movement aids in walking, especially on uneven surfaces.

When there is a problem in the subtalar joint, the location of pain is described as being deep. The exact location may be…

The two bones in the lower leg are the tibia and the fibula. The point just above the ankle where these two bones meet is called the syndesmosis. While technically a joint, it does not function like most joints as there is very little motion between the two bones. Its main functions are to provide stability to the ankle joint and allow for motion of the joint.

The most common way the…

The talus bone makes up part of the ankle joint and the subtalar joint. The ankle joint allows for up-and-down motion and the subtalar joint supports side-to-side motion. A talar fracture is a break in the talus bone that often involves both of these important joints. 

The ankle and foot must be well-aligned for proper function. The goal of surgery is to realign the bone pieces and…

A tendon transfer is moving a tendon from its normal, anatomic location to another area of the foot or ankle. Tendons typically are transferred in order to restore more normal movement to a foot and ankle that has lost function. A common problem is loss of the ability to raise the foot up, which is called foot drop. This can result from nerve or muscle damage due to stroke, injury, or other…

Tendoscopy is a procedure that allows an orthopaedic surgeon to see the inside of a tendon sheath to treat tendon disorders of the foot and ankle. Tendoscopy is very similar to arthroscopy. A small camera and special instruments are placed through small incisions along the course of a tendon. Sterile fluid is used to expand the sheath and provide direct exposure to the tendon.

The goal…