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Minimally Invasive Surgery Specialist

Podiatry Hotline Foot & Ankle

Foot and Ankle Specialists & Podiatrists located in Mission Viejo, CA

There are times when foot problems aren't treatable using conservative options, in which case minimally invasive surgical techniques could provide an alternative to open surgery. Podiatry Hotline Foot & Ankle in Mission Viejo, California, specializes in minimally invasive surgeries of the foot to correct problems like hammertoes and bone spurs. Call Podiatry Hotline Foot & Ankle to find out more about minimally invasive foot surgeries or book an appointment online today.

Minimally Invasive Surgery Q & A

What are minimally invasive surgeries?

Minimally invasive surgeries use techniques that only require small incisions, unlike traditional open surgery. Open surgery requires a surgeon to make a large incision into the skin and underlying tissues to give them a view of the bones and joints in your feet. 

Minimally invasive techniques remove the necessity for your provider at Podiatry Hotline Foot & Ankle to view the surgery site directly. Instead, they use specialized instruments to perform the procedure under X-ray guidance.

Using minimally invasive surgery, your provider can perform corrective procedures and repair most foot problems.

What conditions can be treated using minimally invasive surgeries?

The providers at Podiatry Hotline Foot & Ankle can use minimally invasive surgeries to treat a range of foot problems, including:

  • Bunions
  • Hammertoes
  • Bone spurs
  • Neuromas
  • Trapped nerves
  • Calluses
  • Corns
  • Heel spurs
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Diabetic ulcers
  • Flat feet and hyperpronation
  • Soft tissue lesions
  • Arthritic joints

They can also perform complex reconstructive surgeries using minimally invasive techniques.

What are the advantages of minimally invasive surgeries?

The providers at Podiatry Hotline Foot & Ankle perform most minimally invasive surgeries on an outpatient basis, so you won't have to stay in the hospital overnight. Minimally invasive surgeries have numerous other advantages, including:

  • Reduced costs
  • Less pain
  • Lower risk of infection
  • Faster healing
  • Reduced postoperative stiffness
  • Smaller scars
  • Less requirement for opioid pain relief

You won't need a general anesthetic for most minimally invasive surgeries. You might have a regional anesthetic that numbs your lower body or a nerve block that just numbs your leg with a sedative to keep you relaxed.

These types of anesthesia carry fewer risks and aren't as likely as a general anesthetic to cause side effects like nausea and a sore throat. Nerve blocks have the additional advantage of offering pain relief for an extended period after the surgery. 

When might I need minimally invasive surgery on my feet?

Podiatry Hotline Foot & Ankle only suggests surgery when there are no other options to relieve pain and restore function in your feet.

For most patients, noninvasive approaches such as medical-grade custom orthotics and braces are a safe and effective treatment. However, if your condition doesn't respond to these treatments or is too severe for nonsurgical methods to work, minimally invasive surgeries could be the answer.

Not all patients are good candidates for minimally invasive surgeries, but if this applies to you, your provider can still operate and resolve your foot problems using traditional techniques.

Find out more about minimally invasive surgeries by calling Podiatry Hotline Foot & Ankle or booking an appointment online today.