Blog Archive
WHAT IS MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY? Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) treats foot and ankle conditions and deformities using very small incisions. In these procedures, your foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon uses special instruments to cut bones under X-ray guidance and inserts screws through very small incisions. Advantages of minimally invasive surgery...
WHAT IS AN ACHILLES TENDON TEAR? The Achilles tendon is a large tendon at the back of the lower leg and ankle that connects the calf muscles to the heel. It is the largest tendon in the body, and its strength allows us to push off with forces up to...
WHAT IS AN ANKLE SPRAIN? An ankle sprain refers to tearing of the ligaments of the ankle. The most common ankle sprain occurs on the lateral (outside) part of the ankle. There's a good chance you may have sprained your ankle at some point while playing sports or stepping on...
WHAT IS TOTAL ANKLE REPLACEMENT? Total ankle replacement, also known as total ankle arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure that foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons use to treat ankle arthritis. Arthritic changes may be a result of normal "wear and tear" due to aging or from an injury such as a...
What is a Foot and Ankle Orthopedic Surgeon. For the best possible foot and ankle care, see a Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeon. THEY'RE TRAINED MEDICAL DOCTORS Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeons are the only foot care specialists who are trained as physicians (MDs and DOs). That means they’ve completed...
WHAT IS A STRESS FRACTURE? A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone. These fractures most often result from overuse and can occur with an increase in activity. Stress fractures most commonly occur in the weightbearing bones of the legs. When a bone is subjected to a new...
WHAT IS MIDFOOT ARTHRITIS? The midfoot (middle of the foot) is critical to the overall function of the foot and ankle. It serves many different functions, including transferring weight from the heel to the forefoot (front of the foot) when you walk. The midfoot is composed of multiple small bones...
WHAT IS ACHILLES TENDINITIS? The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body. It connects the upper calf muscles to the back of the heel bone. Achilles tendinitis is an injury to this tendon that causes pain in the back of the leg. Typically this injury results from inflammation...
WHAT IS ADULT ACQUIRED FLATFOOT DEFORMITY? Adult acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD) is a progressive flattening of the arch of the foot. This flattening occurs as the posterior tibial tendon (a tendon in your lower leg) wears down. AAFD has many other names such as posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, posterior tibial...
WHAT IS ANKLE FUSION SURGERY? The goal of an ankle fusion (also known as ankle arthrodesis) is to relieve pain and maintain or improve function for patients with ankle arthritis. Ankle arthritis occurs when there is a break down of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones that...
WHAT ARE OSTEOCHONDRAL LESIONS? Osteochondral lesions are injuries to the talus (the bottom bone of the ankle joint) that involve both the bone and the overlying cartilage. These injuries may also be called osteochondritis dessicans or osteochondral fractures. The injuries may include softening of the cartilage layers, cyst-like lesions within...
WHAT IS HALLUX RIGIDUS? Hallux rigidus is arthritis of the joint at the base of the big toe. It is the most common arthritic condition of the foot, affecting 1 in 40 people over the age of 50 and typically developing in those over age 30. Big toe arthritis tends...
WHAT IS A CALCANEUS FRACTURE? A calcaneus fracture is a broken heel bone. There are two types of calcaneus fractures: one involves the subtalar joint and one does not involve the joint. The subtalar joint is formed by the calcaneus and the bone above it, which is called the talus....
WHAT IS A JONES FRACTURE? A Jones fracture is the name often used for a fracture at the base of the fifth metatarsal, the bone on the outer side of your foot. Jones fractures are one of the most common foot injuries. This broken bone may heal slowly because of...
WHAT IS A LISFRANC INJURY? A Lisfranc injury involves the joints and/or the ligaments of the midfoot (middle of the foot). The Lisfranc is a ligament of the foot that runs between two bones called the medial cuneiform and the second metatarsal. The name comes from French surgeon Jacques Lisfranc...
WHAT IS ARTHRITIS OF THE FOOT AND ANKLE? The pain and stiffness you feel in your feet and ankles as you age could be arthritis. If left untreated, this nagging pain can get worse over time, eventually making it difficult to walk even short distances. Severe arthritis can restrict your...
WHAT IS A PLATELET-RICH PLASMA INJECTION? Platelets are small cells in the blood that help form clots to stop bleeding. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a patient’s own concentrated platelets. PRP contains a large number of growth factors, which are thought to stimulate healing. When PRP is injected, it can aid the...
WHAT IS A MORTON'S NEUROMA? Morton's neuroma is a thickening of the tissue that surrounds the small nerve leading to the toes. It occurs as the nerve passes under the ligament connecting metatarsal bones in the forefoot (front part of the foot). Morton's neuroma most frequently develops between the third...
WHAT IS A BROKEN ANKLE (ANKLE FRACTURE)? The ankle is made up of three bones: the tibia (shin bone), which forms the inside, front, and back of the ankle the fibula, which forms the outside of the ankle the talus, a small bone that sits between the tibia and fibula...
WHAT IS A HAMMERTOE? A hammertoe is a deformity of the second, third, or fourth toe. In this condition, the toe is bent at the middle joint, so that it resembles a hammer. Hammertoes typically start as a flexible deformity but if left untreated could potentially develop into a fixed/rigid...
WHAT IS TOTAL ANKLE REPLACEMENT? Total ankle replacement, also known as total ankle arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure that foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons use to treat ankle arthritis. Arthritic changes may be a result of normal "wear and tear" due to aging or from an injury such as a...
Bunions can cause pain with activity and/or with certain shoes. Whether you are a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, patients in Bozeman can rest assured that help is available locally. Dr. Reichard is trained in the newest procedures and techniques if surgery becomes necessary. WHAT IS A BUNION? Bunion...