Foot and Ankle Surgery

Relieve pain with procedures from board-certified surgeons.

If you’re suffering from persistent foot or ankle pain that hasn’t improved with conservative treatments, surgery may help. At Henry Ford Health, our foot and ankle surgeons offer a wide range of leading-edge procedures to treat common and complex foot conditions.

Not sure if you’re ready for surgery yet? Learn more about our nonsurgical treatments for foot and ankle pain.

Foot and ankle surgery: Why choose Henry Ford?

As a regional leader in foot and ankle care, we tailor treatment to your needs. By doing so, we relieve pain, improve mobility and get you back to living the life you want. People trust us for their foot and ankle surgery because we offer:

• Experienced team: Board-certified orthopedic surgeons and podiatric surgeons work together to deliver a higher standard of care. You get access to multiple specialists and a broader range of procedures. Meet our foot and ankle team.
• Innovative procedures: We offer the latest foot and ankle surgeries at our program, providing more choices to those seeking treatment. From minimally invasive procedures to complex limb-lengthening surgery, we offer total care.
• Informed approach: We believe the people we help should have realistic expectations about surgery and rehabilitation. We give honest, thorough answers to your questions so you can make the best treatment decisions for your needs.

Foot and ankle surgeries we offer

Our foot and ankle surgeons offer a full range of procedures for degenerative conditions and traumatic injuries. We treat arthritis, bunions, flat feet, high arches, hammertoes, tendon tears, broken bones, Charcot foot and plantar fasciitis. We help you walk and feel better.

Learn more about the foot and ankle conditions we treat.

Ankle replacement

Ankle joint replacement (ankle arthroplasty) is typically done when people have severe osteoarthritis or arthritis tied to trauma in the ankle. Your ankle surgeon removes the damaged parts of the joint and replaces them with plastic or metal components. Ankle replacement can relieve arthritic pain and restore mobility to the ankle.

Learn more about foot and ankle arthritis.

Bunion surgery

The goal of bunion surgery is realigning the big toe joint. Your foot surgeon may make small cuts in the big toe (osteotomy). Another type of procedure removes the damaged part of the big toe joint and rejoins the bones (arthrodesis).

The foot surgeons at Henry Ford offer minimally invasive bunion surgery. This procedure uses tiny incisions and a special drill to realign the joint without soft-tissue damage. Pins hold the realigned joint in place. This surgery can get you back in shoes and on your feet faster.

Learn more about bunions.

Tendon repair surgery

You may need tendon repair surgery for a severe tendon tear. The most common tendon injuries affect the Achilles tendon and the posterior tibial tendon (tendon that supports the arch of the foot). During surgery, the torn ends of the tendons are reattached.

Foot reconstruction

We may recommend reconstruction surgery for conditions such as flat feet, high arches, Charcot foot, plantar fasciitis or bunions. The goal is restoring a normal form to the foot so you can move without pain and stay as active as possible. Our surgeons remove damaged portions of ligaments and tendons. They may replace them with healthy tissue from elsewhere in the foot or ankle.

Learn more about:

• High arches and flat feet, including Charcot foot
• Plantar fasciitis

Revision surgery

Unfortunately, some people don’t have good outcomes after foot or ankle surgery. If you’ve undergone surgery in the past but are still experiencing pain or instability, we may be able to help. Revision surgery can correct bones, ligaments or tendons that failed to heal properly. This type of surgery may involve fixing failed ankle replacements or removing hardware used during a joint fusion.

Arthroscopic surgery

The foot and ankle surgeons at Henry Ford offer a variety of arthroscopic foot and ankle surgeries. These procedures offer less invasive alternatives to traditional open surgeries.

During an arthroscopic surgery, the surgeon inserts a tiny video camera (arthroscope) into the foot or ankle through a small incision. This camera allows the surgeon to see inside the joint and operate without having to make large cuts or damage surrounding tissues.

Potential benefits of arthroscopic surgery include:

• Faster recovery
• Less downtime
• Smaller scars

Not all surgeries can take an arthroscopic approach. Also, minimally invasive surgery is not always a good fit when you have a foot or ankle condition. Talk to your doctor to determine the best option for you.

• Tenex: Sometimes a procedure (debridement) is necessary to remove the damaged tissue and repair the tears. This procedure repairs the tissue using tiny incisions and minimally invasive technology. Focused ultrasound beams break down damaged tissue to offer a level of precision that’s not possible with traditional open surgery.

What to expect after surgery

Rehabilitation after surgery is different for each person. Also, while some procedures can get you back on your feet quickly, other treatments require a lengthy recovery. You may not have full use of one leg for several months. Also, most people need to wear a soft cast or boot after surgery. And you may need physical therapy to help restore strength and mobility to your foot or ankle.

Any surgery comes with its own set of risks and benefits. At Henry Ford, we want you to have realistic expectations about surgery and what rehabilitation may entail. We take the time to answer your questions and evaluate your goals for recovery. Together, we determine if surgery is the best path to a positive outcome.

Watch orthopedic surgeon Dr. Erik Eller discuss questions you should ask before undergoing foot or ankle surgery.