Anyone who has experienced the pain of Achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis knows prompt attention is essential. These types of injuries can be very complicated to treat. You should seek treatment from an experienced orthopedic specialist for foot and ankle care to avoid future pain or recurring injuries. When you experience trauma, an orthopedic doctor at MedStar Health can diagnose your condition and offer treatment options to help you fully recover. We make sure your bones realign properly, and you regain maximum function as you heal, especially in cases where surgery is necessary.
The most common foot and ankle conditions fall into three categories: deformities, which you are born with or have progressed over time; sports-related injuries; and trauma, which tends to involve broken bones called fractures. These conditions require evaluation by a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon to provide a full range of available interventions, including physical therapy, boot brace immobilization, or something as complex as surgical intervention. We treat the full spectrum of foot and ankle conditions ranging from ankle sprains and tendonitis to major limb salvage from diabetes complications and advanced ankle arthritis.
What are foot and ankle fractures?
The ankle is made up of three bones, and the foot is made up of 26 bones. Fractures can occur in any of these bones, usually the result of trauma, such as falling from a height, or may result from overuse, such as a stress fracture. We typically see fractures in patients who participate in sports or who have weakened bones.
When is surgery the best option for a foot or ankle fracture?
The best way to know if you need surgery for your foot and ankle problem is if you continue to have pain, even after trying multiple conservative, non-operative treatment options, such as immobilization in a boot, injections, physical therapy, or custom orthotics. We use surgery as a last resort, but it can be an important tool for getting you back to doing the activities you love doing.
What are the most common injuries?
The most common injuries we treat are sprains, strains, and fractures.
Ankle Sprains
A sprain occurs when the outer, supportive ligaments of the ankle tear. The severity of an ankle sprain can range from a minor injury to so severe that the ligaments are completely torn, causing extreme pain and a loose feeling in the ankle.
Patients who experience recurrent sprains may suffer from weakened ligaments in the ankle, known as ankle instability. Repeated sprains may lead to more serious ankle problems, including bruised cartilage between the heel and the shin or bone spurs around the ankle. Eventually, these problems can cause foot and ankle arthritis.
Fractures
The ankle is made up of three bones, and the foot is made up of 26 bones. Fractures can occur in any of these bones, usually the result of trauma, such as falling from a height. Fractures are commonly seen in patients who participate in sports or who have weakened bones.
What are the causes?
Ankle and foot injuries are most commonly the result of trauma in patients who participate in sports or who have jobs that require physical strain. The most common causes of these injuries include:
- Falling or landing improperly on the foot or ankle
- Blow to the foot or ankle
- Sudden twisting movement
What are the symptoms of a foot or ankle fracture?
Because a severe sprain can often mask the symptoms of a fracture, every injury to the foot and ankle should be examined by a physician. Your injury may warrant a consultation with a MedStar Health physician if you have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Immediate and severe pain
- Swelling
- Bruising and tenderness
- Decreased range of motion
- Difficulty walking or putting weight on the injured foot or ankle
- Lump or visible deformity
How can we help?
An orthopedic surgeon who specializes in foot and ankle surgery can offer a full range of options, from non-operative measures to surgical approaches, to get you back on your feet as soon as possible. Some examples of the procedures our experts perform include:
Our providers
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Foot and Ankle Orthopedic Surgery
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Nicholas D. Casscells, MD
Foot And Ankle Orthopedic Surgery
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Paul Stuart Cooper, MD
Foot And Ankle Orthopedic Surgery
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Gregory Paul Guyton, MD
Foot And Ankle Orthopedic Surgery
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Walter Chad Hembree, MD
Foot And Ankle Orthopedic Surgery
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Stuart D. Miller, MD
Foot And Ankle Orthopedic Surgery
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Jacob M. Wisbeck, MD
Foot And Ankle Orthopedic Surgery
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Orthopedic Trauma Surgery
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Robert David Golden, MD
Orthopedic Trauma Surgery
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David Matthew Hampton, MD
Orthopedic Trauma Surgery
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Orthopedic Surgery
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Brock William Adams, MD
Orthopedic Surgery & Orthopedic Oncology
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Farhang Alaee, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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David Ahron Cohen, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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David Larry Gold, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Jessica B Hawken, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Bruce Knolmayer, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Milford Howarth Marchant, MD
Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Sports Medicine & Sports Medicine
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Edward C Rabbitt, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Jeffrey D. Sabloff, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Ira Dean Gelb, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Peter Shay Johnston, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Charles Francis Mess, Jr., MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Mark Donald Perry, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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David T. Streets, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Patricia Turner, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Bo Zhang, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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