Is Minimally Invasive Foot Surgery Right for You?

Minimally invasive foot surgery is a type of surgery used to address a variety of foot ailments.

Patients who undergo this type of surgery recover faster than those who endure older, open surgical procedures that cause more harm to the soft tissues of the foot. 

Continue reading to learn more about minimally invasive foot surgery, the foot ailments it can help treat, and the recovery process. 

What is minimally invasive foot surgery?

Minimally invasive foot surgery is a relatively new surgical procedure. Standard foot and ankle operations can be conducted using tiny surgical instruments through tiny incisions or cuts with this type of surgery. 

This procedure can be used for a variety of foot surgeries, including a bunionectomy or to repair bunions. Bunions are a frequent foot disorder in which a bony lump protrudes from the outside base of the big toe. 

Standard open foot and ankle procedures frequently use larger surgical instruments, such as powered saws, and larger incisions, resulting in additional trauma to the area. 

Patients benefit from reduced discomfort after surgery, less edema and stiffness, fewer scars, and a speedier return to normal function when minimally invasive foot surgery is performed. 

Which conditions may minimally invasive foot surgery treat?

Minimally invasive foot surgery can cure a wide range of foot and ankle disorders. These are some examples:

• Hammer toe
• Bunions
• Bunionettes (similar to bunions but on the small toe rather than the big toe)
• Arthritic bump removal from joints
• Flat foot correction
• Other toe deformities
• Abnormal bone growth removal to prevent underfoot ulcers in diabetics
• Heel bone spur removal
• High arch correction

Anyone suffering from one of these foot diseases is eligible for minimally invasive foot surgery. It is especially useful for people with skin or blood supply difficulties in their feet and who cannot have open surgery due to wound healing concerns. 

Recovery process

The soft tissues in the foot are less traumatized during minimally invasive foot surgery. This means the soft tissues will heal faster than they would after open foot surgery. 

Following minimally invasive surgery, there will be less bruising, edema, and stiffness, and the foot will appear more normal. 

However, if the bones are severed during minimally invasive or open-foot surgery, they will take the same time to recover. Regardless of the type of surgery, the foot will need to be elevated for a while after surgery. 

Anyone undergoing foot surgery, whether minimally invasive or open foot surgery, will require rest and recovery afterward. Patients who have undergone minimally invasive surgery, on the other hand, often believe that they can walk and move around more readily in the early stages of recovery due to reduced edema and stiffness. 

Although recovery following minimally invasive foot surgery is marginally faster than from open foot surgery, it is better to think of recovery as "easier" rather than "quicker." This is especially true if the surgery requires bone cutting (which depends on your foot condition and the type of surgery being performed). 

What can I do to speed up my healing?

You must keep your foot elevated when resting for the first two weeks after minimally invasive foot surgery. Moving your calf muscles and regularly wiggling your toes is also beneficial during this time. 

You can also avoid standing on your foot, allow your foot to hang down when sitting, or recline for more than 15 to 20 minutes at a time during the first two weeks after surgery. 

Conclusion

Minimally invasive foot surgery, like all procedures, has risks and may cause wound infections, blood clots, and nerve injury. 

These hazards, however, are less common after minimally invasive surgery than after open surgery. This is because the wounds are smaller, there is less soft tissue stress, and the operation takes less time. 

Finally, minimally invasive foot surgery is a new method that demands a skilled surgeon.