Podiatric Surgery
The definition of podiatry is the care of the human foot, especially the diagnosis and medical and surgical treatment of foot disorders. The podiatric providers at Hennepin Healthcare have expertise in managing diseases, disorders and injuries related to the foot and ankle.
What we treat: Foot and ankle
Foot and ankle injuries can happen in a fall or from wear and tear from everyday activities or even from ill-fitting shoes. When injury occurs, the foot and ankle’s ability to function is disrupted, impacting the intricate workings of bones, muscles, ligaments and other structures.
Common types of reconstructive surgery include correction of foot deformities such as painful bunions, arthritis, toe deformities, and nerve procedures. Podiatric surgeons can also correct painful complex deformities of the foot and ankle and repair trauma, including fractures and residual arthritis. All of the staff podiatric providers have an interest in providing state of the art treatment in diabetic wound care and diabetic limb preservation. The providers work closely with many medical specialists at Hennepin Healthcare to ensure that our patients suffering from diabetes or vascular disease maintain their ability to walk and to keep their independence.
Wound Care
Our Center for Wound Healing and Limb Preservation offers technology to assist in healing wounds that have become chronic and often decreased a patient’s quality of life. The hyperbaric oxygen chamber combined with LUNA technology brings new hope to wounds to stubborn to heal.
Diabetes
People with diabetes need to take special care of their feet, since they become more susceptible to foot problems. Poor circulation and nerve damage (known as neuropathy), are two aspects of the disease that can lead to serious complications. A lack of feeling may keep you from knowing there’s an issue, and even something as small as a scratch can quickly turn into a major concern. That’s why diabetic foot care is so important.
All of the staff podiatric providers have an interest in providing state of the art treatment in diabetic wound care and diabetic limb preservation. The providers work closely with many medical specialists at Hennepin Healthcare to ensure that our patients suffering from diabetes or vascular disease maintain their ability to walk and to keep their independence.
Symptoms and pain
See a podiatrist if you are experiencing pain in your foot or ankle. The following are types of pain that can be associated with feet and ankles:
- Tendon pain - Tendons are thick cords of tissue that connect muscles to bone. There are several tendons in the foot that can get tendonitis, which is inflammation surrounding a tendon. Causes of tendonitis can be overuse, abnormal foot structure such as flat feet or high arches, a traumatic injury or a medical condition such as arthritis or gout.
- Foot pain -Arthritis is a common cause of foot pain, but there are many more causes that your podiatrist can diagnose. Simpler causes such as corns, calluses and ingrown toenails can cause extreme pain in your foot. Foot deformities such as a hammertoe or a bone spur can cause pain. Diabetic neuropathy is a nerve damage that can occur with diabetes and it damages nerves most often in the legs and feet. Peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord and can affect many areas of your body, but usually causes weakness in hands and feet.
- Ankle pain -Ankles are a complex structured part of the body often taken for granted. Ankle pain or instability can be caused by sprains, fractures or arthritis. A bad step or foot roll can cause ligaments around the ankle joint to become overstretched or even tear. Pain left unaddressed can contribute to new injuries down the road.
- Heel pain -There are many causes of heel pain, including heel spurs, stress fractures, plantar fasciitis and many more. However, there are many solutions to managing or curing it, such as extracorporeal shock wave treatment, custom orthotics, nerve decompression and others.
