Foot & Ankle Surgery
While far less complex than surgery, conservative treatments aren’t always adequate to care for severe foot and ankle injuries. At VP Foot & Ankle Specialist in the Printer’s Row and the Garfield Ridge neighborhoods of Chicago, Illinois, Aaron Raestas, DPM uses his extensive experience to plan and execute foot and ankle surgery for fractures, club foot, ulcers, and other injuries and deformities. To find out if you need foot and ankle surgery, call VP Foot & Ankle Specialist, or book a consultation online today.
VP Foot & Ankle Specialist
Aaron Raestas, DPM
Foot & Ankle Surgery
Q & A:
What is foot and ankle surgery?
Foot and ankle surgery refers to invasive treatments for complications and injuries involving the structures within your feet and the joints connecting them to your legs. In many cases, surgery is a necessary step in managing severe deformities and trauma.
During surgery at VP Foot & Ankle Specialist, Dr. Raestas can reconstruct your foot or ankle to promote effective healing and preserve the function of the muscles and joints. His podiatric surgical specialties include total ankle replacement, surgical wound care, and various types of reconstructive surgery for the foot.
While planning for your surgery, Dr. Raestas discusses the operation with you extensively. To prepare for your surgery and work around any potential complications, he might use X-rays and other imaging tests.
Which conditions can foot and ankle surgery treat?
Foot and ankle surgery is typically only necessary in severe cases that involve significant bone or tissue damage. Dr. Raestas recommends surgery on a case-by-case basis and can tell you if or why he feels that surgery is the next step for you.
Many surgical techniques in podiatry are effective in treating:
- Foot and ankle fractures
- Flat foot (little to no arch in the foot)
- Charcot arthropathy
- Club foot
- Cavus foot (very high arches)
- Severe plantar fasciitis
- Diabetic foot ulcers
- Severe ankle sprains
Dr. Raestas confirms that your diagnosis is accurate before he plans your foot or ankle surgery. In some cases, he uses minimally invasive techniques, which use small incisions to minimize scarring, postoperative pain, and other downsides of surgery.
When is foot and ankle surgery necessary?
Foot and ankle surgery is rarely the first step in treatment for any condition or injury. At VP Foot & Ankle Specialist, Dr. Raestas starts every treatment plan with conservative or non-operative treatments. Depending on the case, this might involve:
- Custom orthotics
- Casts
- Braces
- Physical therapy
- Oral medications
- Injections
- Wound debridement
- Dressings and bandages
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
These approaches encourage healing without invasive repairs and the extensive healing time that comes with them. However, if they aren’t effective in reducing your symptoms and healing your injury or condition, Dr. Raestas will consider surgery.
You might also consider surgery for foot features present from birth, like low or high arches, that could lead to other injuries and complications.
Without the right strategy to treat them, foot and ankle complications can leave you unable to stand or walk. Call VP Foot & Ankle Specialist or book an appointment online for a foot and ankle surgery consultation today.
Photo by Daniel Reche
Call VP Foot & Ankle Specialist for immediate treatment if you think you might need foot or ankle surgery. Alternatively, you can request an appointment online.
What You Need to Know About Your Appointment
Arrive 15 Minutes Early
Arrive 15 minutes early to fill out intake forms and relevant documentation.
Bring Your Insurance Card
Be sure to bring your insurance card or insurance information.
Bring Valid Identification
We will need to see valid identification. We accepts a state issued ID card or a valid passport.
Bring Referral Information
If you were referred by another clinic or physician, please bring applicable contact information or referral documentation.
