Orthopaedic Specialities
Foot and Ankle Surgery
Specialist care for ankle, heel and forefoot conditions.
Introduction
Your feet carry several times your body weight with every step, across millions of steps a year. When something goes wrong — a stubborn bunion, a torn Achilles tendon, a sprain that never quite healed, a collapsing arch — the pain affects everything from work to exercise to sleep. Foot and ankle surgery has advanced dramatically in the last decade. Arthroscopic techniques, joint-preserving osteotomies, total ankle replacement and biologic tendon repair allow most conditions to be treated with smaller incisions, faster recovery and durable results. At Medaura, our foot and ankle team focuses on restoring not just structure but the comfortable, confident walking pattern you took for granted before the problem started.
Causes
- Mechanical overload from poor footwear, prolonged standing or running
- Sports injury — ankle sprains, Achilles ruptures, stress fractures
- Inherited foot shape — flatfoot, high arches, bunion-prone first metatarsals
- Osteoarthritis after old fractures
- Inflammatory arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis and gout
- Diabetes-related neuropathy and pressure ulcers
- Tendon degeneration with age
Risk Factors
- Family history of bunions or flatfoot
- Female sex (bunions are more common in women)
- Tight or narrow footwear, high heels
- Obesity
- Repetitive impact sports
- Diabetes, especially with poor sugar control
- Previous untreated ankle sprains
Symptoms
- Pain in the forefoot, heel or ankle that worsens with walking
- Visible deformity — bony bump at the big toe, claw or hammer toes, collapsed arch
- Swelling that does not settle after a few weeks
- Repeated ankle giving way
- Difficulty wearing normal shoes
- Numbness, tingling or non-healing wounds in diabetic patients
When to Consult a Doctor
See a foot and ankle specialist when pain persists beyond six weeks of conservative care, when an ankle sprain has not healed and the ankle keeps giving way, when a bunion or hammer toe interferes with footwear, when you cannot bear weight after an injury or when a diabetic foot develops any ulcer or callus that does not heal in two weeks. Early specialist input prevents the small problem from becoming a deformity or chronic pain.
Diagnosis
- Weight-bearing X-rays of the foot and ankle
- MRI for tendon, ligament and cartilage assessment
- Ultrasound for dynamic tendon evaluation
- Gait analysis and pedobarography (pressure mapping)
- Nerve conduction studies in suspected neuropathy
- Vascular assessment for diabetic patients
Treatment Options
Bunion (Hallux Valgus) Correction
Modern minimally invasive scarf or chevron osteotomies realign the great toe with small incisions and rapid recovery.
Hammer Toe Correction
Tendon balancing and joint fusion straighten claw or hammer toes.
Ankle Arthroscopy
Keyhole surgery for cartilage damage, impingement, loose bodies and synovitis.
Ankle Ligament Reconstruction
Repair or reconstruction of torn ankle ligaments for chronic instability, often with anchors or autograft.
Achilles Tendon Repair
Mini-open or percutaneous repair for ruptures, plus debridement and reinsertion for chronic tendinopathy.
Flatfoot Reconstruction
A combination of tendon transfers, osteotomies and selective fusions to restore the medial arch.
Total Ankle Replacement
Joint-preserving alternative to fusion for end-stage ankle arthritis in selected patients.
Diabetic Foot Surgery
Wound debridement, deformity correction and reconstruction to prevent amputation.
Treatment Procedure
Most foot and ankle operations are performed as day-care or short-stay procedures, often under regional ankle block with light sedation. A typical bunion correction takes 45–60 minutes through a small incision over the inside of the foot. The bone is cut, repositioned and fixed with a tiny titanium screw, and soft tissues are rebalanced. Ankle arthroscopy uses two or three 5 mm portals through which a high-definition camera and instruments are inserted to clean or repair the joint. Achilles repair, ankle replacement and complex reconstructions take longer and involve a single overnight stay. Modern protocols allow most patients to bear weight in a specialised boot within one to two weeks for many procedures.
Benefits of Treatment
- Pain-free walking and standing
- Restored ability to wear normal footwear
- Stable, confident ankle that no longer gives way
- Correction of long-standing deformity
- Lower risk of falls in older adults
- Faster return to sport, work and travel
Recovery and Aftercare
Recovery depends on the procedure. After bunion correction, you will wear a flat surgical shoe for two to three weeks and progress to normal shoes by six weeks. After ankle arthroscopy, most patients walk comfortably within a week. After Achilles repair, you will be in a boot with a graded heel wedge for six weeks, then progress to physiotherapy and return to running by four to six months. Ankle replacement and complex reconstructions require eight to twelve weeks of protected weight-bearing followed by structured rehabilitation. Throughout, our team coordinates physiotherapy, dressings and follow-up imaging.
Possible Risks and Complications
What to be aware of
- Wound infection or delayed healing, particularly in diabetics and smokers
- Stiffness in adjacent joints
- Nerve irritation or numbness around the incision
- Recurrence of deformity if early footwear advice is not followed
- Non-union or malunion of bone cuts
- Deep vein thrombosis (rare in foot surgery)
Prevention Tips
- Choose well-fitted, supportive footwear with adequate toe-box width
- Strengthen ankles and calves with regular exercise
- Treat ankle sprains properly — early rehabilitation prevents chronic instability
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Inspect feet daily if diabetic; treat any wound immediately
- Use orthotics if you have flatfoot or high arches and develop pain
Why Choose Medaura
Medaura connects you with surgeons and physicians who have trained at India’s top medical institutions and continue to publish, teach and innovate in their fields. Every recommendation we make is grounded in current international guidelines and our doctors’ direct clinical experience. We coordinate appointments, second opinions, diagnostic workups, financial estimates and travel logistics for patients from across India and abroad — so you can focus on getting better, not on navigating a fragmented healthcare system
Senior consultants
15+ years of sub-specialty experience.
Transparent pricing
Written estimates, no hidden charges.
Rapid recovery
Modern, audited recovery pathways.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Find Answers to Your Healthcare Questions
Get quick, reliable information about treatments, appointments, services, and patient care.
Will I have visible scars after bunion surgery?
Modern minimally invasive techniques leave very small scars that fade significantly within months.
Can I walk after surgery or will I need a wheelchair?
Most patients walk in a surgical boot or shoe within days. Wheelchair use is rarely required beyond the first day.
How long is the hospital stay?
Most procedures are day-care or one-night stays. Ankle replacement and complex reconstructions may need two nights.
Will my bunion come back?
Recurrence is uncommon with correct surgical technique and appropriate footwear afterwards. Wearing very narrow or pointed shoes again increases the risk.
Can I return to running?
Yes, most patients return to recreational running by three to six months, depending on the procedure.
Is total ankle replacement better than ankle fusion?
Replacement preserves motion but is technically demanding and not suitable for everyone. Fusion is more durable for heavy manual workers. Your surgeon will discuss the trade-offs in detail.
I have diabetes — is surgery safe for me?
With well-controlled sugars, optimised circulation and careful wound care, surgery is safe. Pre-operative HbA1c below 7.5% gives the best outcomes.
How soon can I drive?
Right foot surgery: about six weeks. Left foot surgery on an automatic car: often within two weeks. Always confirm with your surgeon.
Will I need physiotherapy?
Structured physiotherapy is essential after most foot and ankle procedures and is built into our recovery plan.
