Arthritis Surgery

When conservative options fail, surgery can be the next step. There are different types of surgical options depending on the joint involved.

Arthritis Surgery in Calgary

Arthritis can effect any joint in the foot and ankle. The most common is the big toe joint (1st metatarsal phalangeal joint), which is often referred to as Hallux Limitus/Rigidus. Other joints that are prone to arthritis are the midfoot joints (tarsal-metatarsal joints), the sub-talar joint, and the ankle joint.

When conservative options fail, surgery can be the next step. There are different types of surgical options depending on the joint involved.

Arthritis surgery can help repair or replace a damaged joint. In doing so, it can reduce pain and improve the way the affected joint functions.

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Many people can manage their arthritis symptoms through exercise, diet and treatment. However, sometimes the challenges of living with the disease require surgery to help with pain, reduced mobility and decreased quality of life.

There are a number of different kinds of surgeries to treat arthritis, often depending on your age, level of mobility and the joint affected.

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The thought of surgery can be daunting, but it can sometimes be your best option to improve your quality of life. Talk to your arthritis care team to understand the pros and cons and see if surgery is the right option for you. As a general rule, Arthritis Surgery procedures are performed on an out-patient basis in an Alberta Health Services (AHS) approved Surgical Center or in a Hospital. Surgical procedural costs are covered by AHS or the patient may opt for private surgery to avoid a waiting time. A visit to Feldman Foot And Ankle Specialists will CLEARLY define all available patient options.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common symptoms in arthritis?

What are the most common causes in arthritis?

Causes
The two main types of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, cause different types of joint damage.

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is caused by wear and tear on a joint's cartilage — the hard, slick coating on the ends of bones where they form a joint. Cartilage cushions the ends of the bones and allows for nearly frictionless joint motion; however, enough damage can result in bone grinding directly on bone, causing pain and restricted movement. Wear and tear can occur over time or be accelerated by a joint injury or infection. Italso affects the bones and the connective tissues that connect muscle to bone and hold the joint together. The joint lining may become inflamed and swollen if the cartilage in a joint is severely damaged.

Arthritis rheumatoid
The immune system of the body attacks the lining of the joint capsule, a tough membrane that encloses all joint parts, in rheumatoid arthritis. This lining (synovial membrane) swells and becomes inflamed. The disease process can eventually destroy joint cartilage and bone.

Risk elements
Arthritis risk factors include:

Family history-If your parents or siblings have arthritis, you may be more likely to have it yourself as some types of arthritis run in families.
Age-Age raises the likelihood of developing several types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.
Your sexual orientation-Women are more prone than males to get rheumatoid arthritis, but most of the people who have gout, another type of arthritis, are men.
Previous joint injury-People who have injured a joint, say while playing a sport, are more prone to subsequently develop arthritis in that joint.
Obesity-Your knees, hips, and spine are particularly strained when you carry extra weight. Those who are obese are more likely to get arthritis.

How do you treat arthritis?

Injections are a popular arthritis treatment that delivers medication directly to the affected joint. Cortisone, a powerful anti-inflammatory, is the most commonly used medication for joint injection. Alternatives to cortisone may be used depending on the joint, such as artificial joint lubricant (also known as viscosupplementation or hyaluronic acid) or platelet-rich plasma. Non-surgical options frequently include oral medications (anti-inflammatories), injections (steroids or other), physical therapy, weight loss, shoe changes, or orthotics such as shoe pads or custom-made braces.

Is it necessary for me to have doctor surgery for my arthritis?

Surgery may be required when non-surgical treatments fail. In cases of mild arthritis, this may entail cleaning the arthritic joint and removing bone spurs that restrict motion. Your foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon may recommend replacing the joint with an artificial joint or fusing the joint to eliminate painful motion regularly, particularly in situations of sophisticated arthritis..

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For more information on Arthritis Surgery, book a surgical consultation with one of our board certified podiatric surgeons

For more information on Arthritis Surgery, book a surgical consultation with one of our board certified podiatric surgeons

Schedule A Consult