Foot Surgery

Both of our podiatrists at the Associate Foot Specialists Clinic are highly qualified podiatric surgeons. Depending on your individual foot problem, foot surgery may or may not be an option. It is essential to discuss all available options, conservative or more aggressive, with your podiatrist.

For patients considering foot surgery, options may include a facility within the Calgary Health Region or Office-Based Surgery.

The facility used may depend on your specific foot condition and general health. Some patients may have the option to choose between office-based surgery and a Calgary Health Region facility. In general, access to surgery is faster in the office than in the Calgary Health Region, where waiting lists are much longer. There are, however, increased costs associated with office-based surgery.

Office surgery is performed using local anesthesia and oral sedation. Our office has a fully equipped, private, sterile operating room on-site.

Surgery in a Calgary Health Region Facility is performed under local anaesthesia with IV sedation. General anaesthesia is rarely required—currently, day surgery at the Rockyview Surgical Centre or the Peter Lougheed Hospital. Surgeries completed at the Peter Lougheed are often more complex and may require an overnight stay.

Each surgical procedure requires a different type of foot immobilization, such as a bandage, splint, surgical shoe, cast, or a combination of these, to prevent foot flexing and ensure proper healing. Good post-operative results require appropriate foot support to prevent future problems. Additional appliances may be necessary, such as a shower bag, which helps prevent water from penetrating and infecting the wound.

Post-operative rehabilitation varies widely depending on the foot problem and procedure. Immediately following surgery, patients should rest, stay off their feet, limit activities, and elevate their feet. Patients may return to bearing weight on their foot after a few days or after a few weeks, depending on their surgery and if a fixation device, such as a pin or screw, was used.

In all cases, following all post-operative surgery instructions given to you is essential to minimize potential post-operative complications and allow proper healing. This may include icing, elevation, range of motion exercises, or physiotherapy.