Key Takeaways:
- Minimally invasive foot surgery (MIS) offers a less invasive option for foot pain than traditional surgery.
- MIS can be used to treat many common types of foot or ankle pain, including bunions, bone spurs, and diabetic foot ulcers.
- Many patients report faster healing times and less post-operative pain than traditional surgery.
When at-home treatments don’t work, and you’ve followed all your doctor’s other treatment plans, such as shockwave therapy, surgery may become an option. Minimally invasive foot surgery (MIS) offers a quicker recovery with less invasiveness than traditional surgery.
What is Minimally Invasive Foot Surgery?
Minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery is a surgical approach that uses specialized video-guided tools to make very small incisions, usually less than an inch long. This method helps doctors reach the area that needs treatment while causing less harm to the surrounding tissues, leading to quicker recovery and less pain for patients.
What Conditions Does Minimally Invasive Foot Surgery Treat?
Not all conditions can be treated with minimally invasive foot surgery. However, those conditions that can be treated with it have had a very high success rate in recent years. These include:
- Achilles tendon ruptures
- Ankle arthritis
- Bone spurs
- Bunions
- Corn removal
- Diabetic foot ulcers
- Flat feet
- Hammertoes
- Metatarsalgia
- Other deformities of the toes or fee
Most often, your doctor will try more conservative treatments before deciding whether MIS is a good option.
How Does Minimally Invasive Foot Surgery Work?
If you and your doctor have tried other options and nothing else has relieved your pain, and if you’ve both decided that MIS is the best next step, here’s what you can expect.
Before Surgery
Start by making a list of questions for your surgeon. They should be open, honest, and happy to answer them so you can fully understand what’s going to happen and what’s expected of you.
If you take blood thinners or drink alcohol, you may be asked to stop them for a few weeks before surgery. This helps reduce the risk of excessive bleeding.
Diabetes patients or those with other medical conditions may receive specific instructions to optimize their blood sugar.
To prepare for recovery:
- Make plans with a friend, family member, or neighbor to help you in your first post-op days.
- Have a designated healing spot in your home where you can easily reach the things you need, such as water or medications.
- Understand how to use any post-op medical devices you may need, such as a wheelchair or crutches.
- Clear paths in your home so you don’t trip.
Finally, expect to be told when you need to stop eating and drinking before your surgery.
During Surgery
You’ll probably be put under general anesthesia so you don’t feel any pain during the procedure.
Once you’re fully asleep, the surgeon will make very small incisions in your foot or ankle. They’ll then use special tools to hold the skin, muscle, and tissues away from the surgical site. Your doctor will then insert a thin, telescopic camera called an endoscope through the incision site.
With the endoscope in place, your surgeon can perform the necessary surgery.
When they finish, the endoscope is removed. The skin, muscle, and tissues are allowed back in place, and the wound is held together with small stitches or surgical tape.
After Surgery
Your surgeon will have given you post-operation instructions before you went in. These may include:
- How often to replace your surgical dressings
- Cleaning instructions
- A timeline for expected swelling and pain reduction
- Prescriptions for pain relievers and possibly antibiotics
- Dietary restrictions
- Movement and driving restrictions
- Post-op compression garments or devices
Immediately after surgery:
- Keep the dressings clean and dry
- You may experience some bleeding
- Coming out of anesthesia may cause nausea or vomiting
- Keep your foot elevated
- Do not drive
- Do not put weight on your foot
Up to 2 weeks after surgery:
- Your surgery dressings will probably be removed
- You may be able to put some weight on your foot while wearing protective footwear
- Significant decrease in pain and swelling
Up to 6 weeks after surgery:
- Minor, if any, pain and swelling
- Limited activities to recover the range of motion, possibly physical therapy
- Limited return to daily activities
- Possible transition to normal footwear
Everyone’s case is unique. Only your doctor can give you a more accurate timeline for your post-surgery recovery.
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Foot Surgery
Despite the word “surgery” in the name, most patients have reported:
- Shorter recovery times
- Less scarring
- Less pain during recovery
- Lower instances of infections or bleeding
- Better range of motion after recovery
FAQs: Minimally Invasive Foot Surgery
Q: How do I know if MIS is right for me?
A: Your doctor will discuss with you whether you’re a good candidate for MIS. Factors taken into consideration include your previous medical history, other care options that haven’t worked, and your specific condition.
Q: Do all podiatrists perform minimally invasive foot surgery?
A: No. Minimally invasive foot surgery requires specialized, advanced training beyond standard surgical training. The doctors at Plymouth Podiatry have that training and offer this technique to eligible patients.
Q: Will my insurance cover MIS?
A: Most insurance will cover MIS for certain conditions. We recommend reaching out to your insurer to request an explanation of benefits and confirm whether minimally invasive foot surgery is included.
Q: Are there complications from minimally invasive foot surgery?
A: Minimally invasive foot surgery involves risks such as infection, bleeding, nerve injury, and complications from general anesthesia. These risks are generally considered minor or rare. Discuss any concerns you have with your foot surgeon.
Minimally Invasive Foot Surgery Experts in Massachusetts
At Plymouth Podiatry, we don’t just treat symptoms, we treat people. That’s why we offer Minimally Invasive Foot Surgery in Taunton and surrounding areas as an option when traditional or conservative treatments just don’t work.
Contact us or call one of our offices at (866) 536-4446 (Plymouth) or (508) 936-3028 (Raynham) to speak with us about how we can help you.