Reports From the Field: Foot and ankle surgery relieves pain, arthritics say

Reports From the Field: Foot and ankle surgery relieves pain, arthritics say

Surgery to treat arthritis in the foot and ankle significantly relieves pain and helps patients increase their physical activity, according to a patient survey from the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS).

About two-thirds of the patients reported pain relief, while more than half said they increased their physical activity after surgery.

Patients who were surveyed had foot or ankle surgery in the past two years to treat conditions in which arthritis was the underlying cause. Procedures include ankle arthroscopy, joint replacement, joint removal, fusion, and remodeling to clean out the joints.

Patient quality of life can be significantly improved by surgery to relieve arthritic pain and restore lost motion, says Robert W. Mendicino, DPM, FACFAS, president of the ACFAS.

For more information see the organization’s web site at www.acfas.org.