A foot surgeon in Jolietmay be a podiatrist instead of an orthopedic surgeon. Podiatrists are not medical doctors, but they have completed a substantial amount of training to qualify them to treat disorders and injuries to these parts of the body. Severely sprained ankles and bunions are examples of problems that may require an operation to resolve.
Ligament Reconstruction
Nearly all ankle sprains heal over time without surgical intervention. Some are serious enough to require a splint or cast to immobilize the joint while it heals. Physical therapy may be recommended to strengthen the soft tissues around the joint.
If the patient still experiences joint instability and significant pain after a few months, a foot surgeon in Joliet may perform ligament reconstruction. This is most common when someone has sprained the same ankle more than once. With each sprain, the risk of future injury increases.
Bunionectomy
Abnormal growth of bone and soft tissue at the base of the big toe is known as a bunion. This joint enlargement develops when the big toe is consistently pushed inward and out of alignment. Most commonly, this happens because of wearing tight shoes or the development of arthritis in the feet.
A splint worn on the affected area can gradually move the bone into proper alignment over time. If this does not work, a podiatrist could perform an operation known as a bunionectomy to remove the protruding enlarged part of the bone.
Anyone dealing with problems like these may reach out to Suburban Foot & Ankle Associates today.
