Private treatment for problems in your foot and ankle
If your pain interferes significantly with your daily activities and nonsurgical treatment options - such as over-the-counter medication, rest, icing, bracing your ankle, or changing to more comfortable shoes - have not worked, it may be time to consider surgery. Some of the common conditions that may require foot and ankle surgery include:
At The Beaumont Hospital, we have a network of highly qualified consultants who can help you decide if it’s time for foot or ankle surgery. They will deliver the highest standards of care and help guide you through your journey – from your initial consultation right through to your recovery.
The Beaumont Hospital is located in Bolton in Greater Manchester. People visit us from across Lancashire and the North West, from local areas including Wigan, Bury, Chorley, Leigh, Worsley and Burnley. We also welcome patients from across the UK as well as abroad. When you go private, you can choose which hospital and which consultant are the best fit for you.
Some of the most common foot and ankle surgeries offered at The Beaumont Hospital in Bolton include:
"About 70% of the foot and ankle surgeries that we perform are forefoot surgeries," says Dr Joseph Ring, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the hospital in Bolton. The most common forefoot surgeries are for removing bunions and toe deformities.
For bunions and other toe deformities, conservative, non-surgical options are highly recommended, especially for otherwise healthy people. However, if you have persistent pain and cannot fit comfortably in any footwear, or if a bunion is causing pain in other parts of your foot, it may be time to consider surgery.
"The majority of forefoot surgeries are a day case procedure, usually with a short anaesthetic - a local anaesthetic, or pain-relieving block - and most patients can walk on the foot from the day of surgery," says Dr Ring.
The success rate for forefoot surgeries is approximately 90%. People report being able to wear shoes comfortably and live pain-free after the procedure.
"The majority of patients who have this kind of surgery with us are very happy with the outcome and get back to a normal level of activity. Quite a few will come back and have the other side done, or they'll send their nearest and dearest to see us,"; he adds.
However, Dr Ring notes, the surgery comes with risks, such as:
"The risk of major complications such as blood clots is very, very small", reassures Dr Ring.
"Usually, patients are inconvenienced between two and six weeks after these operations, depending on the type of surgery," says Dr Ring.
However, he explains, "it usually takes a couple of months to see the full effects of surgery." Generally speaking, the complete recovery timeline for forefoot surgery is:
Your consultant may recommend arthroscopy to help them investigate, diagnose, or treat the following issues:
You will receive local or general anaesthesia before the surgery. During the procedure, your consultant will make one to three small incisions in your skin and insert a tiny camera - called an arthroscope - along with other surgical instruments. They will repair the damaged tissue and then close the incisions with stitches.
The advantages of ankle arthroscopy compared to traditional open surgery are:
"The success rate for ankle arthroscopy is pretty high," says Dr Ring. "I'd say probably 80 to 90% of people are very, very happy after arthroscopy. It's a really successful procedure."
However, as with surgeries in general, there are risks associated with anaesthesia and specific risks for this procedure. These include:
"Arthroscopy recovery is very quick," Dr Ring says. "The small incisions heal quickly, and most patients can return to regular activities within three weeks. Physiotherapy will be recommended to help you regain mobility and heal quicker."
Ankle fusion surgery is usually recommended in the treatment of arthritis.
During the procedure, your surgeon will make a cut in your ankle to access the joint, compress the bones and attach them together with plates, nails, or screws.
At The Beaumont Hospital, the procedure may be done through traditional open surgery or an arthroscopy, which allows for a faster recovery time. Usually, ankle fusion requires an overnight stay in the hospital.
Still, "the majority of people recover very well, and many of our patients return to their manual labour jobs after surgery," says Dr Ring.
"Ankle fusions have a very good success rate," he adds.
The risks of ankle fusion surgery include:
"You are not allowed to walk for six weeks after surgery," Dr Ring explains. "Then, for another four weeks, you may have to walk in a boot."
Physiotherapy starts around six weeks after the surgery to gradually improve your range of motion and strengthen your joint. After three months, your consultant may place you in an ankle brace, and your movement may improve even more. You can return to normal activities within ten months after ankle fusion surgery.
Ankle replacement surgery improves the pain and mobility of your ankle, your overall gait, and your ankle's strength. Ankle replacements last anywhere between 10-25 years, so further down the line, some people may require another ankle replacement to replace the prosthesis.
This surgery is highly successful, but, like all other surgeries, it comes with some specific risks that need to be discussed beforehand. They include:
"With ankle replacement, you're probably looking at six to 12 months recovery time," says Dr Ring. "The surgery is a bit more invasive than other surgeries, and you may have to spend a couple of nights in the hospital before you are discharged."
During the procedure, your consultant will "move tendons from the stronger areas of the ankle to replace the weak tendons and improve your foot's ability to raise the front part of the foot."
Foot drop is usually the result of an underlying issue with your spine, and the success rate of foot drop surgery may depend on the root cause of the condition.
If you want to know more about our services, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0141 300 5009.
