Systemic Issues Affecting the Feet

Some systemic issues can cause specific deformities about the foot and ankle. The most common of these is diabetes. Foot issues arising from diabetes can range from ulcers and non-healing wounds on the foot to severe deformities about the foot and ankle. Gout most commonly affects the big toe, but it can also affect the lesser toes, midfoot, or ankle regions. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause many different toe deformities. Charcot-Marie-Tooth is an inherited condition that affects the nerves and muscles of the foot. Osteomyelitis is an infection in the bone. In the adult population, osteomyelitis is usually caused by an injury, surgery, or immunosuppressed individuals. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), formerly reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), usually occurs after an injury or surgery. Unfortunately, it is impossible to tell which patients will develop this condition. If you have been told that you have any of these conditions and have problems with your feet, then you should be evaluated by one of our orthopedic trained, foot and ankle surgeons.

Many patients undergoing surgery have questions about anesthesia. For many foot and ankle surgeries, we utilize a combination of anesthesia modalities for maximum pain control and comfort. In consultation with you and your anesthesiologist, we will select the combination that gives the best comfort and safety in the perioperative period based on your medical history and personal choice. Please review the videos below for more information on the different anesthetic modalities.