Ankle Sprains, Part 2 - High Ankle Sprains

Sport's Dreaded "High Ankle Sprain"

Connecting the two bones of the lower leg & ankle (the tibia and fibula) are four ligaments called the syndesmotic ligaments. A high ankle sprain occurs with damage to one or more of these ligaments. This injury gets its common name because these ligaments are further up the leg than those damaged in other ankle sprain injuries. 

Causes

• Injuries of the syndesmosis are commonly associated with an ankle fracture where one or more of these ligaments is partially or completely ruptured (torn).
• Without fractures, sprains can occur when the foot is in an up position relative to the ankle and the leg rotates externally (outward). High ankle sprains may often follow, especially in cases where continued rotation causes a complete tear of the ligaments.
• Being hit or kicked in the outside of the lower leg in soccer, football or other sports may cause injury to the syndesmosis. In these cases, other injuries along the inside of the ankle must be ruled out before diagnosing a high ankle sprain.

Signs & Symptoms

• For acute injuries, swelling and pinpoint tenderness along the syndesmosis is often seen. Squeezing the lower leg muscles from side to side (the "squeeze test") may also cause pain in the area.
• Moving the foot up and rotating it to the outside will also cause pain along the syndesmosis (low ankle sprains cause pain when the foot points down and in, contrasting the difference between the two).
• May be associated with swelling along the inside or outside of the ankle when other injuries are suspected.
• Difficulty bearing weight for moderate to severe injuries is extremely common. For more mild injuries, the patient may be able to bear weight.

X-Ray

X-rays of the ankle are necessary to rule out a separation of the tibia and fibula, especially in injuries that cause disruption of all four ligaments. However, x-rays may not be able to completely evaluate an injury to the syndesmosis when some of the four ligaments are intact. X-rays will also help to rule out any bone injury that may be associated with injuries to the syndesmosis. Stress testing may be performed under fluoroscopy, which allows us to move the foot in a certain position to try to produce a separation between the two ankle bones.

MRI

MRIs are more definitive for syndesmotic injuries. Ruptures of one or more of the ligaments are easily seen on the axial images. MRIs are also able to evaluate any abnormal position of the syndesmosis, which could contribute to long-term problems.

CT Scans

CT Scans can be used to evaluate the position of the tibia relative to the fibula. They are most often used in cases of this injury.

Treatment

For isolated injuries without a separation of the bones, conservative care is performed in almost all cases. This may include a short period of immobilization with or without weight-bearing activity. Physical therapy follows to encourage range of motion, strength and stability gains with a return to sports and activities. Ligaments heal reliably without any long-term problems if the entire syndesmosis has not been torn those these injuries typically take longer to heal than do low ankle sprains.

Example of an ankle sprain where complete rupture of
the syndesmosis resulted in surgery.

Complete ruptures of the syndesmosis, where the tibia and fibula are shown to be separated need to be addressed surgically. Fractures to the bones must always be ruled out first. Procedures are perfomed on an outpatient basis under a twilight or general anesthetic. One or two screws are placed from the fibula into the tibia to reduce the bone separation and allow healing of the ligaments. Immobilization in a boot or cast may be necessary for 4-6 weeks. However, using crutches to minimize weight-bearing activity is necessary for up to twelve weeks. Screws may or may not be removed for three months. We often replace the screws with large caliber sutures that maintain the reduction of the syndesmosis and allow normal motion of the ankle joint. At times these large sutures (tightropes) may be used in lieu of screws to prevent us from doing secondary surgical procedures. The degree of injury often dictates whether we use screws or suture buttons to repair the syndesmosis.

Prognosis

• For mild injuries to the syndesmosis, conservative care produces an excellent long-term outcome. A return to sports within 6-8 weeks usually follows conservative care. Occasionally an impingement may develop in the ankle, necessitating a small cortisone shot to restore better motion to the ankle. A full recovery is expected in most cases.
• When surgery is performed for moderate to severe injuries, the prognosis is excellent following a screw or suture button reduction of the syndesmosis. Return to sports may take 4-6 months. It is expected that our patients will continue to improve for 12-18 months following any surgical procedure. It is imperative to reduce the syndesmosis accurately to prevent any malalignment.

Use our online scheduler to book your appointment! If you have a busy schedule during the week, we are open Saturdays by appointment only in our recently redone Plantation office.

Click here to book your appointment and get back to your best!

Click here for pre- and post-surgery x-ray imaging and more information from Dr. Robert Sheinberg, DPM.

My Child Is Complaining of Heel Pain

What Is Causing It and How Can I Help Them?

By Dr. John Goodner

Dr. Goodner is a Board Qualified
Reconstructive Foot & Ankle Surgeon
specializing in sports medicine foot and
ankle injuries, arthroscopy, trauma &
deformities in patients of all ages.

Painful inflammation to the growth plate (calcaneal apophysis) in the back of the heel is know as Sever's Disease. This ailment is most common in young soccer, baseball and basketball players due to the cleat patterns on shoes for these sports along with the specific demands these sports place on the heel region.

Why is my child having heel pain?

This type of heel pain typically occurs after overactivity in children between the ages of eight and fourteen. Tight muscles in their lower extremities, especially the calves and hamstrings, are usually to blame for the pain's onset. 

Many children who experience heel pain like this have associated flatfeet as well. Growth spurts can aggravate the condition further due to your child's body trying to adjust to the increased tension from already tight muscles on the calcaneal apophysis. Poor shoes or walking barefoot on hard surfaces can aggravate the heel's growth plates as well.

How do I know if my child has Calcaneal Apophysitis (Sever's Disease)?

• Your child will display discomfort in the heel bone at the end of an activity. 
• You will typically see stiffness in their foot in the morning and pain while walking. 
• Their pain will be alleviated by rest and a decrease in activity.
• Stiffness and pain will usually present after a child is done with activity, sits for a period of time and then tries to get up and walk.
• Tenderness to the back, sides and bottom of the heel from touch or grasping of the heel.
• You may notice your child walking on the ball of their foot to avoid touching their heel to the ground.
• Discoloration and swelling likely won't be seen.
• Limping at the end of activity that persists as the condition worsens is another sign.

How can my child's pain get better?

There is always a need to modify or avoid activities that aggravate the injury and avoid going barefooted. Taping the foot to decrease pulling on the plantar fascia is a good relief option. Proper shoes along with heel lifts can decrease pressure and tension on the heel.

Night splinting to stretch tight calf muscles and arch ligaments can maintain flexibility gained from calf stretching. Custom molded orthotics are necessary to support the foot and help to restore proper alignment in cases where flat feet contribute to the heel pain.

Physical therapy to improve flexibility and diminish inflammation of the growth plate may be necessary if symptoms persist after these home care options and activity modification do not work. Occasionally, immobilization in a cast or brace to completely rest the heel and allow healing may be necessary. 

Prognosis is excellent in most cases when a treatment plan is followed.

Use our online scheduler to book your appointment! If you have a busy schedule during the week, we are open Saturdays by appointment only in our recently redone Plantation office.

Click here to book your appointment and get your child back to their best!

Ankle Arthroscopy Might Be the Solution You Need

Why does my ankle hurt??

What might have caused it?

Foot and ankle injuries are very common in sports but are also caused by regular activities in your daily life. There are many structures, including bones, ligaments, cartilage and joint lining around the ankle that may be damaged as a result of an injury.

Injuries can happen from a single traumatic event, from overuse, or from a previously untreated injury that manifests itself later in life. Joints like the ankle are designed to give our bodies freedom of movement, and any injury to them may alter your lifestyle.

Ankle Injury Symptoms

• Injuries may cause stiffness and pain in the foot or ankle joint, especially when you first get out of bed in the morning and start to walk around. The stiffness/pain will be present for a period of time proportional to the degree of injury in the joint.
• With weight-bearing, the joint usually loosens and the person is usually able to walk about or even run. Stiffness and pain will redevelop if the person sits for a period of time then tries to get back up and walk again.
• As the day continues the foot or ankle may begin to ache, especially with excessive weight bearing.
• Swelling may be present over the injured area.
• Instability may develop if the ligaments have been injured, causing the foot or ankle to constantly twist.

Ankle Injury Treatment

• When these injuries are unresponsive to conservative treatment (including orthotics, oral medication or injections, or rehabilitation) arthroscopic surgery may be necessary to remove the damaged tissue in the foot and ankle.

Ankle Arthroscopy Procedure

A miniature camera (between 1/8 and 1/6 inch) is placed into the injured joint and begins transmission to a television screen.The joint is visualized and small instruments, including a laser, are introduced into the affected area to clean out and repair the damage. 

Often, surgery includes removal of bone and/or cartilage fragments. Following that, we suction debris and smooth rough surfaces, often allowing for a joint to resume its normal gliding motion.

If cartilage is torn, loose or lifted, it is removed and small holes (microfractures) are placed in the bone to allow a regrowth of the cartilage. Although not the original cartilage (hyaline) the resurfacing with fibrocartilage is beneficial. Biocartilage implantation may also be performed to transplant cadaver cartilage and provide scaffolding for cartilage regrowth.

Conditions Treated by Ankle Arthroscopy

• Chronic joint pain and swelling
• Arthritis and bone spurs
• Loose bone and cartilage fragments
• Stiff, scarred joints
• Chronic instability
• Ankle fractures that never fully healed and cause persistent stiffness
• Dancers Posterior Ankle Impingement "OS Trigonum" Syndrome
• Chronic Synovitis

Advantages of Ankle Arthroscopy

• Minimally invasive, with a faster recovery time
• Less pain and swelling
• Avoidance of large incisions and scars
• Lower risk of infection
• Outpatient procedure
• Quicker return to regular activities and sports

When conservative treatments fail to alleviate pain and deformity of a joint, arthroscopic surgery should be considered. The surgical procedure is especially helpful for a fracture in the ankle join even after the ankle joint has been fixed surgically. Cartilage in the ankle joint may have been damaged during injury and cause chronic stiffness and pain that may be mild but never completely goes away.

Patients often think this is a condition they can live with, however, once treated arthroscopically a full return to activity may be possible. It's always the best treatment option for athletes and dancers.

Use our online scheduler to book your appointment! If you have a busy schedule during the week, we are open Saturdays by appointment only in our recently redone Plantation office.

Click here to book your appointment and get yourself back to your best!

The Key to Better Health Could Be Right Under Your Toes

Custom Orthotics - Putting Your Body In Balance

What is the function of the foot?

The foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments. This may sound like overkill for a flat structure that supports your weight, but you may not realize how much work your foot does! Let's start with an easy one. Your feet function as a primary "shock absorber" for your body. When your foot hits the ground, it adapts to the surface and lessens the actual impact of that contact. Your foot also acts as a "rigid lever", allowing you to effectively push off from the ground when walking or running.

What do my feet have to do with pain in my ankles, legs, knees, and/or lower back?

Your feet have a direct impact on the rest of your body. Like the foundation of a house, your feet support the weight of everything above them. When a small bio-mechanical problem developing in your foot/feet leads to a subtle change in the way you walk, a chain reaction will occur in your overall posture. These changes can put stress on joints higher up in your body that can lead to these secondary problems. At Foot, Ankle & Leg Specialists of South Florida, we look to correct the underlying issue in your foot with custom orthotics.

What are orthotics? 

Custom orthotics are insoles constructed from a plaster impression of your foot. They are designed specifically to address any abnormality or mechanical problem that your foot is experiencing. A plaster impression is made of your feet. The casts are then sent to a lab and prescription custom insoles are made from them. Small additions called "posts" are added if necessary to allow the foot to function at its best.

How do I know if I have a problem that could be treated by custom orthotics?

The symptoms of poor foot biomechanics may include one or more of the following:

Pain in the bottom of your foot could be fixed by a
custom orthotic!

• Localized foot pain
• Bunions
• Hammer toes
• Arch pain
• Heel pain
• Knee pain
• Hip / Lower back pain
• Tendonitis
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Shin splints
• Stress fractures
• Recurrent injuries
• Fatigue with standing or walking

Why would I or my child need orthotics?

Sometimes the foot is ineffective in absorbing shock or very weak when trying to push off during walking or running. Orthotics will help in both cases. 

Poor shock absorption in feet can lead to:

• Stress fractures
• Heel spurs
• Ankle instability
• Knee pain
• Neuromas

Don't let lower leg pain stop you from doing
what you love!

Poor ability to push off can lead to:

• Flat feet
• Shin splints
• Bunions
• Hammer toes
• Neuromas
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Back pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Achilles tendinitis
• Metatarsal joint abnormalities
• Foot instability
• Turf toe
• Shin splints
• Ankle instability
• Arch pain
• Growing pain
• Premature fatigue with activity
• General avoidance of activity
• Poor cardiovascular fitness

How do the orthotics help correct these problems?

The foot and lower extremities function best in what doctors call "Neutral Position”. This position allows the foot

to function optimally in both absorbing shock and improving stability. Any position in which the arch is too high (cavus foot) or too low (flat foot (links to pre- and post-operation photos)) doesn’t allow this optimal function, and problems can develop in the foot, ankle, knee or back.

Custom orthotics can mostly, if not completely, eliminate fatigue in the feet and legs during or after activity by providing proper support. They can eliminate “growing pains” in children and allow pain-free activity while also lessening the stressful impact of heel strike on the ground.

Orthotics can also lessen signs and symptoms of foot and ankle instability by adding small “posts” to the

device to help even out weight distribution during walking and running. This helps to decrease ankle sprains.

Our patients will typically be able to run faster and a longer distance without pain once they begin using their orthotic devices. Extensive walking (such as through Disney World, hooray vacation!) becomes much easier. Standing in general becomes more pain-free. All of this leads to a better quality of life.

So, why choose our practice to make your orthotics?

Here's what you can expect from the Foot, Ankle & Leg Specialists when it comes to fitting you for a custom orthotic:

• We will perform a comprehensive lower-extremity evaluation to determine your needs.
• This includes evaluation of joint mobility, muscle strength, ligament stability, and your specific gait imbalance.
• Once we have this information, we will make a plaster impression of your foot, placing it in the optimal position to design and produce the best orthotic to treat your imbalance.
• We will make any necessary modifications to the impression in order to make sure your orthotic is optimally shaped to provide you the best short- and long-term quality of life!

What types of shoes are orthotics good for?

Different types of orthotics are made for different types of shoes. They can be made specific to shoes necessary for your daily activities, including:

• Sneakers
• Cleats
• Work Boots
• Dress Shoes
• Cycling Cleats
• High Heels
• Flats & Wedges
• Boots
• Running Shoes

How do I get them?

It's simple. Make your appointment with us today and let us fit you for your custom orthotic! Once we get the plaster impressions, we send them to a lab to create your orthotics. Within 2-3 weeks, we'll give you a call that your orthotics are ready.

Whether immediately or within a few weeks of use, you'll feel full relief from your symptoms. 

Use our online scheduler to book your appointment. If you have a busy schedule during the week, we are open Saturdays by appointment only in our recently redone Plantation office. 

Click here to book your appointment and get yourself back to your best!

Heel & Arch Pain in Adults - A Quick Fix for Foot Specialists

What is Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Spur Syndrome)?

PROBLEM

Are you suffering from heel or arch pain?
Why not fix it with our Foot, Ankle & Leg
Specialists today?

An inflammation of the main ligament in the arch of your foot, where it attaches to the heel bone and supports the foot, can lead to pain in the bottom of the foot. Usually, this pain will be diagnosed as plantar fasciitis, or heel spur syndrome.

CAUSES

• Trauma, or other injury, to the bottom of the foot.
• Excessive activity or use over a short period of time.
• Flat or high-arched feet.
• Tight muscles, especially the calf or hamstring.
• Poor footwear (either flat or worn-out shoes) or walking barefoot for prolonged periods of time.
• Standing or walking on hard surfaces for prolonged periods of time.
• Uphill walking on a treadmill.
• Overuse of the elliptical machine.
• Excessive calf raises or lunges.
• Zumba type classes that make you change elevation frequently during exercise.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Pain first thing in the morning when you get out of bed and put weight on your foot.
• Pain that diminishes while walking. Pain that may last for only a few minutes early on, but persists for longer durations as time passes.
• Pain after sitting for a prolonged period of time or when getting out of a car and starting to walk.
• Occasional burning, numbness, shooting or tingling in the heel. This may also be a sign of surrounding nerve injury.
• Extreme tenderness when touching the heel or arch area on your foot.
• Commonly seen with lower back pain.
• Potential degradation to stress reaction or stress fracture in the foot or leg.

TREATMENT

As painful as plantar fasciitis may be, it's actually very easy to treat if you see a foot specialist early. Here's what to expect from treatment. First, you'll go through a thorough history and physical examination of the foot and lower leg. Then, based on the findings, you'll likely be told one of the following.

• Avoid walking barefoot. Wear a supportive shoe with a heel higher than the front. For women, high heels an inch or larger work best. This takes much of the pressure off of the affected area.
• Anti-inflammatory medication, ultrasound-guided steroid injections or oral medications, will be prescribed to help reduce inflammation.
• Taping your foot to support and give immediate relief to the area.
• Prescription of custom molded orthotic inserts to permanently support your foot and prevent reoccurrence. This is always the best LONG-TERM treatment for plantar fasciitis.
• Frequent stretching of calf and hamstring muscles to improve your overall flexibility.
• Splinting your foot at night to stretch the muscle in the back of the leg.
• Applying ice to the area by freezing an almost full plastic water bottle and rolling it with the arch of your foot.
• Occasional immobilization of the foot in a cast or boot to provide more rest and immediate relief.
• Shockwave therapy or PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections.
• Surgery as a last resort. Endoscopic plantar fascia release of the ligament from the heel is a 10 minute procedure that provides relief in almost all cases.

PROGNOSIS

Long term relief is almost guaranteed when you treat your plantar fasciitis early. A diligent approach to treatment is always best, and when our patients work with us to make that happen, we are able to provide almost immediate relief in most cases.

Use our online scheduler to book your appointment. If you have a busy schedule during the week, we are open Saturdays by appointment only in our recently redone Plantation office. 

Click here to book your appointment and get yourself back to your best!

5 Common Foot & Ankle Injuries in Youth Athletes

Different Effects, Same Goals - Healthy Kids!

Parents should encourage their children to participate in sports. Not only will they gain cardiovascular benefits, but sports also helps to develop attributes like self discipline, teamwork and an appreciation of the importance of good health habits that they will carry throughout their lifetime. In children younger than 10, we believe in multi-sport participation with a training emphasis on proper technique and coordination.

     

We advise that sport specialization be delayed until late teenage years. Research shows that children who specialize too early are more likely to experience foot and ankle injuries. In addition to proper-fitting and supporting footwear, a dynamic warm-up specific to the sport being played is recommended for all ages in order to prevent injury. 

Differing from adults, children are more susceptible to growth plate injuries rather than injuries to tendons and ligaments. These growth plates typically do not finish closing until 15-18 in boys and 13-16 in girls. Many children also suffer from torsional imbalances such as in-toe or out-toe; however, the majority them outgrow these conditions without medical treatment. Still, see a foot and ankle specialist if your child is consistently tripping during activity. It could be related to these imbalances.

Tibial torsion examples in children and youth athletes.

We've put together a list of five common foot & ankle injuries that we see in children that come through our offices, along with different treatments. As always, each case is unique, and we recommend seeing one of our experts if your child is suffering from one of these injuries.

Ankle Sprains

Ankle sprains are typically seen more often in older youth athletes. For younger athletes with the same injury, there tends to be associated growth plate injuries. Immediate treatment is critical to healing and prevention of long term ankle instability. Physical therapy to restore balance and strength is often necessary after offloading the injured ankle.

Pre- and post-operation photos of two types of ankle fractures.

Fractures

If a child is unable to put weight on the injured foot after injury, we recommend an x-ray to rule out a fracture. If the fracture itself is not severe, rest and immobilization with a cast may be enough to let it heal. More complicated injuries may require surgical correction for better long term prognosis. We often see stress fractures in children who participate in over 16 hours of sports practice and activity each week. A good rule of thumb to prevent stress fractures is to keep organized sport participation to fewer hours per week than your child's age in years. 

Heel Pain

Also referred to as calcaneal apophysitis, heel pain is likely caused by an inflammation of the growth plate in the heel from excessive usage, a tight achilles tendon, flat feet, poor fitting cleats or shoes, or blunt trauma. Commonly seen in sprinting sports, like soccer and baseball because of cleat patterns and in basketball from the repeated force when coming down after a rebound. Usual treatment includes rest, immobilization, ice, heel lifts, orthotics, stretching and physical therapy.

Shin Splints

Shin splints are a very common overuse injury. The presence of a tight achilles tendon can cause overuse and inflammation of the weaker dorsiflexion muscles in the front of the leg. In children with flat feet and a tight achilles, overuse of a muscle in the back inside of the leg can become inflamed as well. Treatment includes rest, ice, compression, physical therapy, stretching, strengthening exercises, and orthotics.

Our office is fully equipped and accepts Same Day Appointments for all Urgent/Emergent Foot and Ankle Injuries. If your child is suffering from a foot or ankle injury, save time and money from an expensive trip to Urgent Care or the Emergency Room, and please call the nearest office immediately.

Or, use our online scheduler to book your appointment. If you have a busy schedule during the week, we are open Saturdays by appointment only in our recently redone Plantation office. Click here to book your appointment and get your child back to their best!

Are Stem Cells the Answer to your Foot, Ankle and Leg pain?

Are Stem Cells the Answer to your Foot, Ankle and Leg pain?

     Many patients are avoiding painful and costly surgery by choosing Stem Cell Therapy. We have seen great results for:

Plantar Fasciitis - Heel Pain
Achilles Tendonosis
Tendinitis around the foot and ankle joints
Ankle and Foot Ligament Damage

      If you have had your pain for months, even years, why not try Stem Cells to reduce inflammation and the associated pain to your foot and ankle. Improve your pain and lessen your disability with the latest technology in regenerative medicine. Give yourself a chance to restore your foot and ankle range of motion and decrease the scar tissue formation from your chronic pain or old foot and ankle injury.

     Traditional treatments of repeated cortisone injections and Platelet rich plasma, can present with potential complications and sometimes unclear results. Stem Cell therapy can deliver safer and more reliable outcomes for patient's foot and ankle conditions.

      Go to our website, at SouthFloridaSportsMedicine.com and use the online scheduler to make your appointment at any of our three convenient locations in Broward. Our job is to get you back to your best. See you soon!

http://www.southfloridasportsmedicine.com/joint-lubrication.html

Please Doc, Treat My Bunion

Bunions - Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

To help you understand how the Foot, Ankle & Leg Specialists at South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine diagnose and treat them, we are going to start by going over the causes and symptoms of these uncomfortable foot deformities.

What is a Bunion?

Photo of a Bunion

A bunion is a "bone deformity caused by an enlargement of the joint at the base and side of the big toe."¹

The medical term for a bunion is Hallux Valgus. "Hallux" refers to your big toe, and "Valgus" is defined as a deformity involving a displacement away from the midline. Put together, your big toe is out of place.

Over time, this displacement will cause the big toe to angle in toward the other toes. Sometimes it will overlap them. Other times, it will rotate or twist. Every time, it's uncomfortable.

What Causes Bunions?

Illustration of bone deformity that causes a bunion.

If your parents or grandparents had bunions, you are likely to get them. Bunions themselves are not hereditary, but they are most commonly caused by a faulty foot structure that may be passed down from your parents or grandparents. 

Wearing tight shoes, foot injuries, neuromuscular problems, or structural foot issues like flat feet and pronated feet can also increase the likelihood of bunions - especially in those people who are predisposed to developing them. 

What are Usual Symptoms of Bunions?

If you have a bunion, you know right away that the main symptom is the discomfort and pain that comes from your bunion rubbing against your shoes. If one of your grandparents told you they wore those ugly shoes because of a bunion, now you know why.

As a bunion gets bigger, it gets more and more painful to walk. Over time, bursitis may occur or arthritis may develop in the area as cartilage wears down.

What Treatments are Available?

Unfortunately, bunions will not correct themselves. If you wait to see a specialist, you are just making it more unlikely that some less drastic treatment methods will fix the bunion.

The goal of any treatment is first, to relieve the pressure and pain caused by the irritation, and second to stop any further growth of the enlargement. Early treatments include protective padding (to eliminate friction), removal of corns or calluses on the foot, changing to those shoes your grandparents wore to accommodate your bunion, orthotic devices to help stabilize the joint, splints, and mobility exercises. 

When these options don't work, you are looking at a surgical correction. Here is what that might look like:

Surgical correction will then require rest for around 3-4 days. You will wear a special shoe or boot for 4-6 weeks, then usually return to athletic shoes by 6 weeks, and dress shoes usually by 12 weeks.

Thankfully, dramatic improvements in bunion surgery techniques means you should experience no long lasting effects from your surgery. You will be able to resume athletic activities, wear your favorite shoes (high heels included), and should not see a recurrence of your bunion. The doctors at Foot, Ankle & Leg Specialists of South Florida have performed thousands of successful bunion surgeries and are up to date on the most recent advances, including hidden minimal incision bunion surgeries (as seen below).

Example before and after of a hidden minimal incision bunion surgery patient.

What Now?

If you are tired of the pain caused by a bunion, you are only making it worse by not having it seen by an experienced professional. It is time to get it checked out by the Foot, Ankle & Leg Specialists of South Florida. 

Go to our website, at SouthFloridaSportsMedicine.com and use the online scheduler to make your appointment at any of our three convenient locations in Broward. Our job is to get you back to your best. See you soon!

Check out more pre and post operative images of our patients at: http://www.southfloridasportsmedicine.com/bunion-pre-and-post-pictures.html

Footnotes:
1. http://www.southfloridasportsmedicine.com/bunions.html