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Foot Specialist StoriesToday's Featured Doctor |
Foot Surgery Need Not Be Frightening
Innovations in podiatric surgery in recent years have made it far more effective and inviting than it has been in the past.
While non-surgical, alternative treatments can help to fix conditions like bunions, melanomas, hammertoes, neuromas and tendon problems, surgery is often the best choice.
Recent innovations have improved podiatrists' ability to diagnose, treat and perform surgery on foot and ankle conditions. For example:
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"Electric" Foot Bandage May Help Diabetics
A patented bandage with tiny batteries that run micro-currents through a wound to kill bacteria may hold promise for healing the stubborn foot ulcers that plague so many diabetics.
"This electrical activity kills bacteria, keeps the wound clean and, in the studies we've had so far, has shown that this stimulates the wounds to heal," said Jeffry Skiba, president and CEO of Vomaris Innovations, based in Chandler, Ariz.
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Relief for Common Foot Problems
A recent issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource covers foot problems that are common in women, particularly as they age. Years of frequent high heal wear can cause permanent damage to tendons in the heel and shoes that are too tight can cause problems. Some of these suggestions address common concerns about feet and what to do for relief.
Blisters are caused by the friction of shoes against the skin. Blisters should not be ruptured, and applying a moleskin or bandage helps.
Bunions are misaligned big toe joints where the big toe slants toward the second toe. This can cause the joints to become swollen and tender, especially if aggravated by tight shoes. Wearing wider shoes, as well as cushioning pads or shoe inserts, can help.
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More Than Half of Diabetics Endanger Themselves by Wearing The Wrong Shoe Size
 According to research in the November issue of the International Journal of Clinical Practice, more than six out of ten people with diabetes are walking around in the wrong sized shoe, which could potentially cause serious foot problems. An ulceration of the foot can have serious implications for patients, such as impaired quality of life, increased amputation risk, and elevated death rates. The World Health Organization has stated that the number of people suffering from diabetes could double to 366 million by 2030 and 80 percent of diabetic foot amputations could be prevented.
Researchers studied a hundred patients, aged 24 to 89, who volunteered to participate in a shoe-size study carried out at a general diabetic clinic. Patients who were attending foot specialist clinics and those who had problems standing or were wearing special footwear were excluded from the study. The results showed that 63 percent of patients were wearing the wrong sized shoes. Approximately 45 percent were wearing the wrong width fitting, and the majority had shoes that were too narrow.
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Five Foot Care Myths
The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons have heard all the myths about foot care. However, myths concerning health can have serious consequences if doctors aren't consulted to set the facts straight. Here are five podiatry myths that numerous patients have reported, and the truth behind them.
"Cutting a V notch into a toenail will relieve the pain of ingrown toenails." The reality of this myth is that cutting the nail does not affect the angle of the toenail growth. The nail will continue to grown downward into the skin and cutting a "V" may cause more problems and pain.
"If I can walk on my foot or ankle, it must not be broken." The truth is that it's very possible to walk on a broken foot or ankle but it depends on the severity of the injury and the individual threshold for pain. Continuing to walk on it can cause further damage.
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Routine Foot Self Exams Can Detect Melanoma
Foot and Ankle Surgeons believe that routine self examinations of the feet are critical to finding skin cancer early, when it is easiest to treat. Close to half of the people who learn they have melanoma of the foot die within five years because cancer had already spread to other parts of the body at the time of diagnosis.
It is estimated that nearly 60,000 people will learn they have melanoma this year. It is not known how of many of these cases involve the foot. More than 8,000 patients will die. However, if melanoma is detected during early stages, 92 percent of patients are alive after 5 years.
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Cosmetic Foot Surgery
Women's obsession with shoes are an enigma. And a foot is hardly an after thought--especially when it comes to high fashion.
And that's why women who aren't happy their pedal appearance, are doing anything to put their best foot forward. A big trend these days is cosmetic foot surgery
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Fallen Arches
The condition of flat feet or fallen arches often has a childhood origin. However, flat feet in children are more likely a pad of fat under the foot rather that real fallen arches.
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Foot Orthotics
By: Paul E. Eckstein, D.P.M., FACFAS
The best orthotics are custom tailored devices specifically crafted to meet the needs of a particular individual. These are generally superior to the over the counter items sold in drug stores, catalogs or other retail establishments.
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Foot Care for the Diabetic
By: Paul E. Eckstein, D.P.M.
Board Certified in Foot Surgery,
American Board of Podiatric Surgery, Specialist, Diabetic Conditions of the Foot
Diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder affecting 17 million people in the United States. Many people have diabetes but are unaware of their condition. Diabetics have an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and foot problems. .
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