Traditional foot surgery involves an open incision to fully expose and gain full access to the anatomical site being worked on. For example traditional bone spur surgery to clean up and arthritic bunion site may have an incision approximately 2–3 centimeters in length. With the minimal incision technique this incision could be fraction of that possibly just 1 cm or less. With a small incision the wounds heal faster. With a smaller incision and with less exposure it is possible that some of the bone spurs will not be fully removed.  

So it is a compromise. There are times when minimal incision surgery is extremely effective. For example smaller bone spurs on the toes can be removed with a small incision and a burr power. Sometimes a tight tendon can be released through a very small incision. There are some innovative new systems and medical instrument companies that are coming up with techniques to do some procedures through a small incision. The following is an example of minimal incision surgery to remove a spur on the fifth toe. There is a before and after image of the x-ray. The incision on this is typically only 4 mm in length.

If you have questions about foot problems and or foot surgery please feel free to contact our office at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online today. 

We often ignore the Tailor’s bunion. This is the painful bump that develops on the outside of the foot or lateral aspect of the foot just behind the small toe. Sometimes the surgery is very simple and basic and just involves shaving down the extra bone in the area and smoothing it down and then suturing things back together.

 

Other times patients have what we would call a splay foot and especially splaying of the fourth and fifth metatarsal. This is where the fifth metatarsal bows out. In this case, we have to reset the fifth metatarsal and surgically realign it back in its normal position. When this is done typically we will use at least one screw to help maintain the alignment of the bone in its new position. if you have a question about Tailor’s bunion correction or treatment options please contact our office at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online. 

 

You can speak to myself Dr. Timothy Young or my partner Dr. Brandon Nelson. We both work at Foot Surgical Center of Issaquah. This serves the Greater Seattle Area, including Bellevue Issaquah and Redmond.