Treatments

A bunionette deformity is an abnormal bony prominence, or bump, on the outer side at the base of the fifth toe (the "pinky toe") at the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ). The bony prominence can start out small and painless but become larger and more painful over time. When bunionettes become larger, it usually is because of growth of the bony prominence, a curved shape to the fifth MTPJ, or…

The calcaneus, or heel bone, plays an important role in walking. A calcaneal osteotomy is a controlled break of the heel bone, performed by a foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon, to correct deformity of the foot and ankle. 

The heel bone can be realigned to achieve a different orientation, which can correct many different deformities and functional limitations. For example, abnormally…

The calcaneus is the heel bone. Fractures or breaks of the calcaneus commonly occur after a fall from a height or car accident. Treatment of these fractures may require surgery.

The goal of heel fracture surgery is to restore the shape of the heel bone as close to normal as possible. Restoration of normal alignment and contour is considered the best way to restore function and minimize…

A cavus foot has a high arch. The cavus can range from being slightly high to severely deformed, causing a patient to walk on the outside of the foot. Surgery sometimes is needed to realign the foot.

While the cause of a high-arched foot it often unknown, a cavus could be caused by nerve disease, clubfoot, or injury. Treatment ranges from changes in shoes to surgeries, depending on the…

A bunion (also known as hallux valgus) is a misalignment of the knuckle of the big toe. This misalignment causes the big toe to turn toward the smaller toes. It often creates a bump at the base of the big toe. Bunions are not always painful, but this deformity generally will increase over time.

A Chevron osteotomy is a common bunion correction surgery. The foot and ankle orthopaedic…

Most bunions can be treated without an operation, but sometimes surgical procedures are needed to relieve pain and deformity. Unfortunately, in some cases bunion repairs fail and the pain or deformity returns. There are multiple factors that can contribute to this challenging scenario. Bunions can recur because of medical conditions or non-healing of the bone after surgery. In some cases,…

The Charcot Restraint Orthotic Walker, or CROW, is a rigid boot designed to accommodate and support a foot with Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN).

CROW consists of a fully enclosed ankle/foot orthotic with a rocker-bottom sole. It is a common treatment used to minimize further deformity and prevent ulcer development after acute CN has calmed down.

CN occurs when bones and joints in…

Distraction arthroplasty is a distraction (stretching out) of the ankle joint. The ankle is held in this distracted position for a period of time. This technique is used to unload the ankle joint and allow healing of the damaged joint. It may be recommended for a patient who has ankle arthritis.

The major goal of this treatment is healing of damaged tissue that occurs from arthritis.…

Shock wave therapy is a non-invasive method that uses pressure waves to treat various musculoskeletal conditions. High-energy acoustic waves (shock waves) deliver a mechanical force to the body’s tissues.

The metatarsal bones are the long bones in the middle of the foot. Each metatarsal bone has a base, a shaft, a neck, and a head. The fifth metatarsal is the last bone at the outside of the foot, and most breaks of the fifth metatarsal occur at the base. 

The majority of fifth metatarsal fractures are treated without surgery. However, certain situations may require surgical treatment.…