Podiatric Surgery is the surgical treatment of the foot and its associated structures. It is carried out by a Podiatric Surgeon, usually as a day case procedure and often under local anaesthetic. If you think you need foot surgery, this can usually be arranged under the care of the NHS, you will in most cases need to be referred by your GP or you can contact your local NHS podiatry unit for advice.
General Podiatrists
Most podiatrists who are members of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists are qualified to undertake nail and soft tissue surgery and can also administer local anaesthetics.
Podiatric Surgeons
Podiatric surgeons are podiatrists who have undertaken specialist training in foot and ankle surgery, they typically treat bone, joint and soft tissue disorders. The minimum training period for UK podiatric surgeons is 10 years and includes a mixture of undergraduate education, clinical practice, post graduate education, examined surgical training and supervised surgical practice. To read more about their training click the section About Podiatric Surgeons
Podiatric surgeons offer comprehensive surgical care for a wide variety of problems, including:
- bunions (hallux valgus)
- problems with the toes (e.g. hammer toes)
- nerve entrapments of the foot and ankle
- arthritis in the foot and ankle
- Skin disorders
- soft tissue or tendon disorders
- sports injuries
- fractures in the foot and ankle
- foot problems in people with diabetes
- birth deformities and other foot problems in children
- heel pain
- high-arched and flat feet
Not all podiatric surgeons do all of the above work. It depends on what other services are available locally. Your GP or Podiatrist will be able to advise you what services are available to you locally.
Important Information on Foot Surgery
Common Foot problems and their surgical correction
While many foot problems can be treated non-surgically, not all problems will improve and some will require an operation. We have a compiled a list of common conditions which can be successfully treated by an operation.
Can foot operations really be performed under local anaesthetic?
Podiatric Surgeons often perform surgery on a day-case basis under local anaesthesia – you will therefore be awake during the surgery. Follow the link to read more.
Who is responsible for my care?
Your treatment / surgery will be undertaken / supervised by a podiatric surgeon who is a Fellow of the Faculty of Surgery (College of Podiatrists). Podiatric surgeons are not registered medical practitioners (medical doctors), but are non-medical specialists in the surgical and non-surgical management of problems of the foot and associated structures.
