When is Surgery needed for a Flat Foot Issue?
When is Surgery needed for a Flat Foot Issue?
Flat foot surgery is intended to correct the present alignment of your feet, ease any pain you may be experiencing because of the foot condition, and make sure that your weight is evenly distributed when you are standing or walking.
What does such surgery involve?
Flat foot surgery is performed by using general anaesthesia, and a local anaesthetic is used after the surgery so that the pain from surgery can be mitigated. Surgeons perform several medical procedures, the most notable among them repairing the ligaments and tendons that support the arch. They also reshape the bone to renew the arch.
Surgeons also perform a procedure referred to as tibialis posterior tendon reconstruction. Here, they take away the damaged tendon of your instep and then replace said tendon with another tendon from your foot. After this, they usually carry out a procedure named calcaneal osteotomy. In this process, they make an incision in your heel bone and fix it again using a small metal screw. In many cases, they also insert a metal plate to make sure the arch of your foot gets the right kind of support it needs to stay that way.
Why might you need such surgery?
It is common knowledge that a flat foot is a condition where you have little to no space underneath the arch of your foot while you are standing. There are several symptoms of the same. You could experience the pain when walking or running, specifically on your foot and inner ankle. At times, your ankles start to swell, or the nerves of your foot on the inner part of the ankle are damaged, thus leading to a tingling sensation or numbness. If you do not treat the condition immediately, you might lose flexibility in your feet.
How long does it take to recover from such surgery?
In most cases, patients can leave the hospital the day they are operated upon. Following the surgery, you may require a plaster cast or aircast boot for six weeks following surgery. Rest your foot as much as possible and keep weight off it. Also, keep it raised over the level of your heart whenever you can. In most cases, the patients can return to sports within 6 to 12 months following the operation.
Conclusion
Flat foot surgery can minimise the pain that the condition causes you, thus distributing your body weight more evenly when you stand or walk and improving the alignment of your feet. Following the surgery, your feet will become strong and more flexible.
