The Comprehensive Resources on Foot Pain, Foot Pain Treatment and Foot Care

ANKLE SURGEONS

Ankle Surgeons

 

By: Craig W. Halihan D.P.M.

 

Ankle surgeons are podiatric physicians who are specially trained to perform ankle and reconstructive surgery. They are licensed to provide complete medical and surgical care of not only the foot, but the ankle joint as well. The ankle is a very important and complex joint that requires special care and training to treat. Care includes:

           

  • Ankle fracture repair
  • Achilles tendon rupture repair
  • Ankle ligament rupture stabilization and repair
  • Flat foot reconstruction
  • Post traumatic salvage and fusions
  • Trauma care to the Fibula and Tibia

 

Care is extended to patients of all ages.

 

            Training for podiatric ankle surgeons is extensive. Four years of undergraduate pre-medical studying leading to a bachelor’s degree is required. This is followed by four years of medical training that is in line with and along side MDs and Dos. This training leads to the DPM degree and qualifies the candidate as a physician. After extensive testing the candidate is licensed and then goes through residency training that includes all of the required rotations of MD residency training as well as extensive surgical training in the Foot and Ankle. After completion of residency and more testing the candidate can now be licensed to practice as an attending physician and surgeon. Once in practice the physician begins compiling cases and experience that will eventually qualify him/her to sit for board certification. At this stage the candidate is considered board qualified.

 

            Once the required experiences of ankle surgeons are acquired the candidate will undergo rigorous written and oral testing. When completed, the candidate will classified as board certified.

Board certified physicians have gone through extensive testing, training and real world experience by the time the patients see them in their private practices. This gives the patient confidence that their foot and ankle surgeon is up to the task of getting them on their feet and back to their lives.

Podiatrist

A Podiatrist is a specialist in the medical, biomechanical, and surgical treatment of diseases in the foot and ankle.  In the United States, the podiatrist is licensed as a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine or D.P.M.  Training of a podiatrist requires attendance in a four year Podiatry Medical School program.  In addition, further training of up to 2 to 3 years of residency training in an accredited hospital or university institution.  Many podiatry medical schools are affiliated with medical school programs.  There are approximately eight podiatric medical schools in the United States.  They are located in California, Arizona, Iowa, Ohio, Illinois, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New York.

Entrance into a college of podiatric medicine requires at least 90 semester hours of college credit at an accredited institution.  The actual minimum semester credit hour requirements for all colleges of podiatric medicine include the following prerequisites according the American association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine.  These courses include biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and English.  Most of these courses require between 8 to 12 semester hours depending on the podiatric medical school with laboratory courses included.

The podiatrist medical education is focused on the medical, biomechanical, and surgical aspects of treatment of the foot and ankle.  Rotations in various specialties are integrated with their training including vascular surgery, family medicine, internal medicine, radiology, pathology, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, general surgery, orthopedic surgery, psychology, endocrinology, plastic surgery, and neurology.  By learning all aspects of human body the podiatrist is well suited to recognize medical symptoms vital to obtaining the correct diagnosis and treatment regime.

Podiatrists are licensed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Podiatrists practice in individual or group practices.  Hospital and surgical center affiliation and credentialing may be obtained in order for the podiatrist to perform medical and surgical procedures.  In addition, podiatrists may also work with HMOs, PPOs, Extended care facilities, health professional schools, Veterans affairs departments, Municipal health departments, and the Public health service department.

Podiatrists strive to become board certified in their specialty that are classified under board certified in primary podiatric medicine and biomechanics, podiatric foot surgery, podiatric reconstructive rear foot surgery, and diabetes prevention and treatment of the diabetic foot wounds and foot wear.  Podiatric board certification requires the graduation from an accredited podiatric medical school, completion of an approved podiatry residency, practice experience by years, case submissions, and passing a written, computer based, and oral examination.  In addition, CME (continuing medical education) is essential and mandatory in many states in which podiatrists are required to obtain up to 50 hours of education a year to expand their knowledge and learn new techniques.

Podiatrists treat a vast array of medical problems in their daily practice.  Many podiatrists work in the office or clinic, hospital, and surgical setting.  They treat patients with pathology as heel pain (plantar fasciitis), ingrown toenail infection, onychomycosis (fungal nails), dry skin, athletes foot, fractures of the foot or ankle, plantars warts, flatfeet, tendon ruptures and tendonitis, arthritis, gout, neuroma (Mortons neuroma), soft tissue masses, running injuries, varicose veins, nerve disorders (as tarsal tunnel syndrome), hammertoes (corns and calluses), bunions, tailors bunions (bunionettes), diabetic foot care and ulcerations, pediatric heel pain, cellulites.

The podiatric patient may not only have foot and ankle pathology but also related medical diseases as diabetes, parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis that may contribute to the foot and ankle disease and requires a team of other medical specialties for complete health care.   The team approach in the care of the medical patient may require consultations or treatment by internal medicine, vascular, endocrinology, eye doctors, neurologists, physical therapists, dieticians, and many other specialties depending on the diagnosis.

Podiatrists not only treat patients medically but also surgically when indicated.

They use a vast array of surgical equipment as surgical screws and plates called internal fixation, external fixation devices as mini and large ring fixators, bone grafts, skin grafts, joint implants for the toes, ankles, or subtalar joint, arthroscopy equipment,

And Endoscopy equipment.  There are continuing innovations medical and surgical field for the care of the podiatric patient.

Diagnostic tests are also ordered by the podiatrist in order to obtain the most accurate diagnosis.  Some equipment may be in the office as the X-ray, diagnostic ultrasound, tuning fork, vascular testing equipment, and neurological testing equipment.  Other tests ordered may be performed at other facilities as the CT scan, MRI, flouroscan, bone scan, blood work, and some vascular and neurological exams.  These diagnostic measurements are important in the diagnosis of the podiatric patient.

The podiatrist treatment regime may consist of performing conservative care or surgical care.  The podiatrist is able to prescribe medications, perform manipulations of the foot and ankle, casting for broken bones, casting for custom orthotics, injections, physical therapy, debridement of tissue and toenails.  The podiatrist surgical care is also well rounded that may include ingrown toenail surgery, wart removal, bunion, hammertoes, diabetic debridement, amputations, external fixation devices, fracture and dislocation repair, reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, ankle arthroscopy.  The podiatrist is a well rounded medical professional and is important in the health care effort in providing patients with long term health and activity.

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Best Podiatrist

What is the best podiatrist?  The following information will give you a synopsis of what to look forward in finding the best podiatrist in your area.  The first source of information that is important in finding the best podiatrist is determining their undergraduate education, the college of podiatric medicine attended, and the number of years of training received in residency and / or fellowship.  Another source of information that is important is to determine the board certification status.  A podiatrist can become board qualified in forefoot and rearfoot and ankle surgery or just board qualified in forefoot surgery depending on passing a written examination.

After board qualification status is achieved, a podiatrist will have up to seven years to submit surgical cases for review and approval in order to sit and take the oral examination.  If passed, the podiatrist will become board certified in either forefoot surgery or rearfoot and ankle surgery or both.  A podiatrist will continue on a yearly basis for licensure approval where he or she will need to obtain continuing medical education hours in order to renew their license.  Therefore; the best podiatrist is one that is board certified and is very experienced in their field of expertise.