4 Foot Conditions We Treat with Minimally Invasive Surgery

Powder Springs podiatrist, Dr. Alvin Cowans, is trained to perform a range of foot surgeries. On some occasions, he uses an open surgical approach. However, for other conditions, he is able to provide treatment using minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques. So, when should you consider MIS, and which conditions are best treated using this approach? Keep reading to find out more about this surgical technique and how we use MIS to treat various foot and ankle concerns.

What is minimally invasive surgery?

Surgeons performing MIS use fewer and smaller incisions, resulting in less damage to your tendons, muscles, and ligaments during your procedure. As a result, you'll typically enjoy a faster recovery period, along with less pain due to reduced soft tissue stripping and minimal scarring. Reduced stiffness following surgery is another advantage of MIS vs open foot surgery. However, not every patient will be a candidate for minimally invasive surgery. And not every condition is best treated using MIS. As such, we carefully evaluate every patient who comes in for a surgical consult in order to determine their ideal treatment option. In general, however, the following conditions are likely to respond well to minimally invasive surgical approaches. 

Four conditions we treat using MIS 

In our Powder Springs podiatry practice, Dr. Alvin Cowans often recommends minimally invasive surgery for conditions such as tailor's bunions, hammertoes, bone spurs, and neuromas. 

Tailor's Bunion

Also called a bunionette, a tailor's bunion describes a prominence of your fifth metatarsal bone, located at the base of your little toe. While it looks like a bony bump, the prominence is actually the rounded end of your fifth metatarsal bone sticking out from your foot as it shifts away from the other side of your foot due to internal or external pressure. When we treat a tailor's bunion with minimally invasive surgery, Dr. Cowans makes tiny incisions that allow him to use specially designed, incredibly precise surgical tools when removing the bony bump protruding from your foot. He may also cut some of your metatarsal bone in order to get it back in alignment, and to keep your bunion from returnng after surgery. Because you avoid an open incision using this approach, the surgery causes minimal injury to any adjacent tissue. Afterward, you have less pain and swelling, and a shorter recovery period. Moreover, he can stabilize the surgical site using a compression dressing after surgery, allowing you to avoid the use of internal stabilizing devices such as plates, screws, or pins. 

Hammertoes 

A hammer toe deformity develops due to muscular imbalances that change your toe shape and function. When we correct hammertoes using an MIS approach, we can correct rigidity and stiffness without leaving a pin or wire in place after your procedure. We can perform the surgery using a tiny incision over the toe, causing minimal damage to tendons and soft tissue. Afterward, you'll be able to bear weight right away, a distinct advantage over open surgeries. 

Bone spurs

Bone spurs that form on your heels are called retrocalcaneal heel spurs. They're made of calcium deposits, and if they become painful, we can remove them with minimally invasive surgery.  Our MIS heel spur removal is performed through a tiny incision, typically made on the sole of your foot. With the help of x-ray guidance, we can then remove the spur using special surgical tools. Simultaneously, we can release your plantar fascia's medial band, reducing your risk for future heel pain. Afterward, you'll enjoy a faster recovery period and a reduced risk for post-surgical complications.

Neuromas

A neuroma is a swollen, enlarged nerve in your foot. The swelling develops because bones in your foot compress the nerve. (That compression could also come from external factors such as pointy shoes.) When you treat a neuroma with minimally invasive surgery, we can remove the affected nerve through a very small incision in the foot, usually between the third and fourth or second and third toes. While you will likely need to wear a walking boot or cast after your surgery, the recovery period will be shorter than what you'd experience after an open surgical procedure. 

Minimally Invasive Foot Surgery in Powder Springs

While there are often advantages to an MIS approach to foot care, not every patient is a candidate for this technique. However, for those who are eligible for less-invasive treatment options, MIS can make your recovery period shorter and less painful, with reduced swelling and scarring as an added bonus.

Ready to see if you can treat foot concerns such as bunions, hammertoes, neuromas or bone spurs with minimally invasive surgery? We're here to help you determine the best treatment option. Just call our office at 770-727-0614  or reach out to us online to make an appointment today. When you come into the office, Dr. Cowans will provide you with a comprehensive evaluation and determine the optimal treatment plan for your needs.