Often we don’t appreciate the importance
of being able to stand on our own two feet
Foot
26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 ligaments and tendons: the human foot is a complex, biological miracle. But modern day humans often don’t treat their feet with the respect they deserve. Aside from accidents in the workplace and sporting injuries, most foot complaints are a result of our everyday lifestyles. Almost all of us are guilty of wearing inappropriate footwear and not walking around barefoot enough (or doing so on surfaces that can damage our feet).
ORTHOmedic is the place to come for treatment of acute injuries, preventative advice and if necessary, correction of ailments caused by our everyday lives. On this page you will find an overview of the most common foot problems and some examples of how these can be treated.
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Bunions (hallux valgus)
The big toe, which naturally bent outwards, is the area of the foot that most commonly suffers from deformities caused by inappropriate footwear. Bunions are not just an aesthetic problem; they also cause displacement of the other toes from their natural position. They can also cause inflammation of the ball of the foot, often as aresult of a shift in its position. Possible orthopaedic treatment methods range from removal of the protruding bone (exostosis removal) to remodelling of the corresponding bone (osteotomy).
Heel spur (calcaneal spur)
Excess bone on the heel of the foot, known as a heel spur, is often diagnosed at a late stage. Heel spurs occur as a result of overexertion and the body’s subsequent healing process. Pain mostly occurs if the adjacent tendon becomes inflamed. Often an orthopaedic insert or shockwave therapy can be sufficient forms of therapy for this disease. However, heel spurs can also be removed by means of a relatively simple surgical procedure.
Hammer toe (digitus maellus)
Hammer toe is a claw-shaped deformity on one or more toes and is a lifestyle disease, usually caused by wearing inappropriate footwear. This form of foot disease often goes hand in hand with bunions. In the early stages, hammer toe can usually be treated using conservative treatment methods, such as with orthopaedic inserts or physiotherapy. If this does not improve the condition, however, a surgical procedure may be carried out, for example to shorten the affected tendons or bones.
Diabetic foot
Reducing the risk of amputation is our ultimate goal when dealing with cases of diabetic foot. Because patients with the diabetes are less sensitive to pain, we recommend they schedule regular check-ups. If diagnosed early enough, diabetic foot can be cured completely. We bring in expert vascular surgeons for surgical procedures on diabetic foot, who use bypasses or stents to remedy insufficient blood flow, which in turn enable the foot to heal.
