Foot and ankle fractures (breaks) are some of the most common bone and joint injuries. Many broken bones can be treated with orthotics or casts, but some can be so severe that they cause painful arthritis or joint instability. Accurately diagnosing and treating these problems requires a doctor with expertise in foot and ankle fractures.  For the best results, a foot and ankle expert will bring the bones back into alignment and restore the cartilage.

Arthritis of the ankle can be very painful. If you have this condition, it can severely affect your ability to walk.  Treatments such as bracing often do not give permanent relief, and surgery is needed.

The most common surgeries for arthritis in the ankle are fusion and replacement. Both of these can work very well. How well they work for you depends on your condition and needs. Our foot and ankle experts provide a thorough evaluation to find the best option for you. This means evaluating not just the ankle, but the entire lower leg. Because surgery for ankle arthritis is a complex procedure, the best results come from choosing a doctor with knowledge and expertise in this type of procedure.

Doctors use MRIs, X-rays and CT scans to diagnose ankle disorders. When these are not enough, our experts have the ability to look directly inside the ankle. A procedure called ankle arthroscopy allows your doctor to see inside the joint by inserting a tiny camera through a small incision. This avoids the pain and inconvenience of exploratory surgery on the ankle.

Cartilage is the gliding surface of a joint and damage to the ankle cartilage can cause severe pain and arthritis. To repair the cartilage, our foot and ankle specialists will work with you to decide about removing or rebuilding the cartilage, or both. This might also include a bone and cartilage transplant. This complex surgery can often be done by arthroscopy, with using a camera and small surgical instruments that allow your doctor to see and repair the problem without making a large incision. Arthroscopic surgery means less pain and discomfort for you, and a shorter recovery time.

Ligaments help keep your ankle joint stable. When the lateral or outside ankle ligament is damaged, you can have an unstable ankle (“weak ankles”) and sprain your ankle more frequently. This can cause pain as well as more damage to the cartilage of the ankle joint. The foot and ankle specialists at OHSU can use surgical procedures to rebuild the ligaments, restoring ankle joint stability. These procedures can allow you to walk, exercise and participate in sports again without pain or instability.

Various foot deformities can cause painful arthritis or simply keep your shoes from fitting the way they should. The most common problems are bunions, clawing of the toes and flat feet. Although many of these conditions can be treated with orthotics (inserts and lifts in your shoes) and shoe modifications, if you have a severe problem, our experts can help correct the problem with surgery.

Minimally invasive bunion procedure

This outpatient procedure performed with a small burr through key hole incisions can successfully treat bunions. This method minimizes risks of infection, pain, wound complications and stiffness. Patients can bear weight on the foot with a protective orthopedic shoe the same day. Patients usually transition to a comfortable walking shoe within four to six weeks.

Other procedures include: