Footnotes, The Foot & Ankle Blog - Page 29 of 30

What is a Bunion? Bunions come in all shapes and sizes.  They are largely genetic resulting from a looseness of the great to and midfoot joints resulting in a shift of the bone and bunion formation.  Although genetics are the primary cause, shoes and other factors can accelerate and worsen bunion problems. Conservative management: Well-fitting, supportive shoes Custom functional orthotics, read more »

Achilles Tendon Problems? Treatment Options are Available! The Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest tendon in the human body.  It is crucial in transmitting forces responsible for walking, running and various other activities.  An injury or tear within the Achilles tendon can cause substantial pain and limitation due to its importance in these daily activities. Anatomy: The Achilles tendon read more »

Advancement in Achilles Tendon Tear and Achilles Rupture Care The Achilles tendon is the strongest tendon in the body but it is also the one that is most commonly injured.  In this article we discuss the anatomy of the Achilles tendon as well as give an overview on Achilles tendon ruptures. Achilles Tendon Anatomy The Achilles tendon is approximately 15 read more »

The STAR and Inbone Total Ankle Replacements:  Which is best for Ankle Arthritis Cases With the advent of new technology and an improved biomechanic understanding of ankle function, the treatment of ankle arthritis has broadly changed in the past decade.  Ankle replacement is rapidly becoming a comparable option to ankle fusion in the treatment of ankle arthritis. The new generation read more »

Lisfranc Mid Foot Fracture Dislocation There are many different types of fractures that can occur in the foot.  Most foot fractures are cause by an external force acting on the foot that will fracture or break the bone. There are a group of joints in the middle of the foot that are situated behind the long bones (metatarsals) of the foot. read more »

Hallux Limitus & Hallux Rigidus: Arthritis of the Great Toe Joint There has been a great deal of advancement in the treatment of great or big toe arthritis also known as hallux limitus or hallux ridigus.  The terms commonly used are referring to the latin for limited to no motion which is the main complaint that patients will have when read more »

In 1876, Morton described a painful condition of a nerve between the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones in the foot.  Mortons Neuroma is not a true neuroma as the name implies, and terminology such as neuritis or neuralgia may be more accurate.  Neuroma’s more commonly occur in the fourth plantar interdigital nerve (3rd interspace) where this nerve tends to be read more »

Bunion Surgery Advice from the California Podiatrists at University Foot and Ankle Institute Bunion surgery, also known as hallux valgus surgery is one of the most common presenting foot and ankle problems.  It is so common that almost every foot and ankle surgeon, both orthopedic and podiatric, perform bunion surgery on a routine basis.  As with every other field, there read more »

All About Platelet Rich Plasma Platelet Rich Plasma Basic Science: Platelets are basic cells in our bodies that produce special proteins called growth factors.  These growth factors are responsible for healing damage to tissues and wounds and clotting.  When there is an injury to part of the body the platelets will rush to the area of injury to begin the read more »

Essential Insights and Treatment Options Ankle sprains represent the most common presenting orthopedic problem to emergency rooms.  Furthermore, since a sprained ankle is so common, it is often mistreated or treated at home without proper care resulting in chronic ankle instability and associated secondary ankle problems. Common Presenting Findings of Chronic Ankle Instability: Looseness with giving way or giving out read more »