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Making the decision to have surgery isn't always cut-and-dried (pardon the pun). Depending on your particular condition, our experienced foot surgeons at Neville Foot & Ankle Centers may possess the skill to perform advanced procedures, but we still prefer to recommend non-invasive treatments whenever possible.
Even when surgical care is warranted, there's also careful consideration regarding which procedures will provide the best outcome for you, which range from minimally invasive to more complex surgical options. Let's take a moment to review when to have surgery on your feet and what factors help you make a final determination.
How Do Our Podiatrists Evaluate Your Course of Treatment?
Neville Foot and Ankle Centers believes in exploring and exhausting conservative, non-surgical, or minimally invasive options before recommending surgery. Since 1986, our goal has been to reduce risk and improve long-term patient outcomes. You have an individual medical profile that we assess with factors including, but not limited to:
- Is the issue acute (abrupt onset or urgent) or chronic (occurring over a period of time)?
- What are the pain levels associated with the issue?
- What's the likelihood of the impacted area healing on its own?
- Does the patient's profile allow for the standard treatment option, considering age, health, and other relevant factors?
How Is Surgical Invasiveness Determined?
There are several other considerations we evaluate to determine a surgical solution, such as:
- Likelihood of complications and other risks
- Recovery period and post op limitations
- Incision size and type: scope vs. open surgery
- Amount of disruption to tissue and bone
- Amount of bleeding
- Post-op pain
- Requirement of anesthesia, such as none, local, or general
Please take a moment to review the chart below to gain a better understanding of what to expect if you decide to have surgery on your feet.
