HomeConditions & surgery guides

Foot & ankle conditions, injuries and surgery guides

Clear, surgeon-reviewed information on common foot and ankle problems, the treatment options, and what to expect if you need an operation.

Conditions

Forefoot
Forefoot

Bunion (hallux valgus)

A bony deformity at the base of the big toe where the big toe deviates outwards and a…

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Forefoot

Hallux rigidus

Arthritis of the joint at the base of the big toe (the first metatarsophalangeal joint).…

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Forefoot

Morton's neuroma

A painful condition caused by thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves between…

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Hindfoot
Hindfoot

Plantar fasciitis

A common cause of heel pain caused by inflammation and degeneration of the plantar…

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Hindfoot

Flat feet (pes planus)

A condition in which the arch of the foot is lower than normal, with the sole of the…

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Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon

Achilles tendinopathy

A common painful condition of the Achilles tendon, the strong band of tissue connecting…

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Ankle
Ankle

Ankle arthritis

Wearing of the cartilage of the ankle joint, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced…

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Injuries & fractures

Injury

Ankle sprain

An injury to the ligaments of the ankle, most commonly the lateral (outer) ligaments.…

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Injury

Achilles tendon rupture

A complete or partial tear of the Achilles tendon, usually occurring suddenly during…

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Injury

Stable ankle fracture

A break in one of the ankle bones (most often the lateral malleolus - the bony bump on…

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Injury

Unstable ankle fracture

An ankle fracture in which the joint alignment is disrupted - either by displaced bones,…

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Injury

Lisfranc injury

An injury to the midfoot involving disruption of the tarsometatarsal (Lisfranc) joint…

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Injury

Metatarsal fracture

A break in one of the five long bones in the middle of the foot. Most metatarsal…

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Surgery preparation guides

Forefoot
Forefoot

Bunion correction (osteotomy)

Bunion surgery realigns the bones of the big toe to correct the deformity and relieve…

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Forefoot

Cheilectomy or first MTP joint fusion

Surgery for hallux rigidus depends on the severity of the arthritis. Cheilectomy…

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Forefoot

Neuroma excision

Surgical excision of a Morton's neuroma is highly effective for symptoms that have not…

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Forefoot

Partial nail avulsion with phenolisation (Zadek procedure)

A persistent or recurrent ingrown toenail is treated by removing the affected edge of…

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Forefoot

Hammer toe correction (PIPJ arthroplasty or fusion)

Hammer toe correction straightens a permanently bent lesser toe. Depending on the…

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Forefoot

First MTP joint replacement / interpositional arthroplasty

For selected patients with hallux rigidus who want to preserve big toe motion rather…

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Hindfoot
Hindfoot

Plantar fascia release

Plantar fascia release is a last-resort operation, considered only after at least 12…

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Hindfoot

Flat foot reconstruction

Flat foot reconstruction is a complex operation for adult-acquired flat foot deformity…

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Hindfoot

Subtalar joint fusion (arthrodesis)

The subtalar joint sits just below the ankle joint and is responsible for side-to-side…

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Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon

Achilles tendon debridement / reconstruction

Achilles surgery is reserved for severe, chronic tendinopathy that has not responded to…

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Achilles tendon

Achilles tendon rupture repair

A complete tear of the Achilles tendon usually occurs suddenly during sport, a sensation…

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Ankle
Ankle

Lateral ankle ligament reconstruction (Brostrom-Gould)

Lateral ligament reconstruction is considered for chronic ankle instability that has not…

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Ankle

Ankle fusion or total ankle replacement

Ankle fusion and total ankle replacement are both highly effective for severe ankle…

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Ankle

Ankle arthroscopy

Ankle arthroscopy is keyhole surgery used to diagnose and treat a range of problems…

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