Dr Anthony Wilson
Southwest Orthopaedics
Excellence. Compassion. Integrity.
Ankle and Foot Services
Foot Fusion
Fusion surgery is typically used to treat arthritic joints in the foot and ankle. A fusion is created by screwing the joints together, typically after the damaged tissue has been removed. The foot is then put into a cast and left to heal, the body during this time is tricked into thinking there is a fracture at the bones and so aims to fix itself and 'fuses' the bones, this usually takes a few months. It is very important to follow all guidelines implemented by your doctor during this period as the bone is weaker than normal bone and so must be looked after.
Bunion Surgery
Bunions can quite often be treated without surgery, however when non-surgical instruments are not effective, surgery is often the only way to relieve pain. Bunions are created through misalignment of the big toe, this then becomes prominent on the inner part of the foot, a bump made up of bone and soft tissue. There are many types of surgery to relieve the pain of a bunion, and depending on the situation this will be explained to you. The recovery period of this surgery is usually 6 weeks to 6 months depending on the amount of bone and soft tissue removed.
Ankle Arthroscopy and
Reconstruction
An ankle arthroscopy is similar to a knee arthroscopy in that it is a procedure designed to allow the doctor to identify and fix the problem. This is done by making small incisions and then inserting an arthroscope in order to project the image of the inside of the joint on to a screen.
An ankle arthroscopy determines if an ankle reconstruction needs to take place, an ankle reconstruction is done through repairing the ligaments in the ankle. This surgery is done under anaesthetic and usually takes 4 to 8 months
Total Ankle Replacement
Complete replacement of the ankle joint, this surgery replaces the ankle joint with a man made 'prosthesis', reducing the pain from such things as a damaged joint or arthritis. This surgery is done under anaesthetic and recovery usually takes 3-4 months.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Minimally invasive surgery is available in limited procedures. Minimally invasive surgery is designed to cut down upon recovery time and also reduce the scarring that will occur.