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Our Treatments
Experiencing foot pain can significantly impact your daily life. At AFC Tennessee, we offer a comprehensive range of treatments to address various foot and ankle concerns. From minimally invasive techniques to address common issues to advanced surgical solutions, we’re dedicated to helping you regain pain-free mobility and get you back to doing the activities you love.
Custom Orthotics
Custom orthotics are specially made devices designed to support and comfort yourfeet. Prescription orthotics are crafted for you and no one else. Our team matches the contours of your feet precisely and are designed for the way you move. Personalized orthotics are only manufactured after our podiatrist has conducted a complete evaluation of your feet, ankles, and legs, so the orthotic can accommodate your unique foot structure and pathology.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy is often a successful treatment for lesions, and nail disorders. Laser treatments do not damage tissue in surrounding areas, are often painless, and allow patients to recover quickly.
· For nail disorders, laser treatments can be effective for toenail fungus and warts.
· For fungus, the laser can precisely target and destroy the fungus, and is often used when other treatments like oral or topical medications don’t work.
· For warts, the laser triggers the body’s immune system to attack the virus.
Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy, also known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), is a non-invasive medical procedure that uses high-energy shockwaves to treat foot pain and other lower limb problems. The shockwaves are delivered through a handheld device that emits acoustic waves deep into the foot’s tissues. The therapy can help with a range of conditions, including plantar fasciitis and Achilles pain, and has been shown to reduce pain by up to 72%.
Wound Care
The AFC Tennessee podiatrists are specially trained to treat foot and ankle wounds, ulcers, and injuries. Podiatric wound care can include debridement, off-loading, specialized footwear, topical and oral medications, proper dressings, skin grafting, etc.
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Minimally Invasive Surgery
Experience the benefits of modern foot and ankle care with minimally invasive procedures. These advanced techniques often mean smaller incisions, reduced recovery times, and less pain compared to traditional surgery.
General Information
Minimally invasive surgery reduces or eliminates many of the unwelcome aspects of traditional surgery. This type of surgery involves using specially designed surgical instruments and devices, along with an advanced imaging system called a fluoroscope, to see inside the body without having to make large incisions. Our surgeons perform their procedures through extremely small ‘key-hole’ incisions in the foot or ankle.
In addition to reduced pain, discomfort, and recovery time, the benefits of minimally invasive surgery include:
· Lower risk of infection
· Minimal Blood Loss
· Shorter surgery time
· Local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia
· Minimal and barely visible scarring
· Undergoing the procedure in our state-of-the-art, in-office surgical suite rather than a conventional outpatient or hospital setting.
Bunion Surgery
If you have a painful bunion, you may be considering surgery. While non-operative treatments like toe spacers and bunion splints may provide pain relief, they do not work to correct a bunion. Only surgery can actually correct a bunion.
There are many different ways to treat a bunion. Minimally invasive bunion surgery has become more common over recent years. The technique allows surgeons to correct a bunion through very small incisions using specialized instruments to cut and fix the bones. Minimally invasive surgery is appealing because it can allow for faster recoveries with smaller scars. However, not all patients are good candidates for this surgery.
We have noticed that our patients who have the minimally invasive technique take less pain medication, have better range of motion of their big toe, and are back in regular shoes in half the time than are my patients who undergo the open technique.
Hammer Toe Repair
Minimally invasive hammertoe surgery (MIS) is an outpatient procedure that uses small incisions to correct hammertoe deformities. The goal of MIS is to achieve the desired results with minimal damage to the surrounding tissue. MIS can involve a variety of techniques, including:
· Bone reshaping : A small incision is made on the side of the toe, and a thin instrument is used to reshape the bone and straighten the toe.
· Bone cutting: A special bone cutting bur is used to trim the bone through a 3-mm incision.
· Soft tissue balancing: Percutaneous techniques can be used to balance soft tissue without making large incisions.
· Joint resection: A small incision is made on the top of the toe, and the tendons and ligaments are adjusted to straighten the toe. The end of one side of the toe bone may also be removed.
Plantar Fascia Surgery
Minimally invasive plantar fasciitis surgery is a surgical procedure that reduces tension on the fascia to treat plantar fasciitis. It’s an outpatient procedure that can be performed using an endoscope or a few small incisions on the ankle. The incisions are closed with sutures and patients can usually resume normal activities after one week.
Some minimally invasive plantar fasciitis surgeries include:
Endoscopic Plantar Fasciotomy (EPF)
This microsurgery involves making one or two small incisions at the base of the plantar fascia near the heel bone. A small camera is then inserted into the incisions to guide the surgeon in cutting the tightest part of the fascia.
Tenex
This procedure uses high-frequency vibrations and special instruments to remove scar tissue from the plantar fascia.
Radiofrequency waves
This in-clinic procedure involves inserting a wand-like needle into the plantar fascia ligament to administer radiofrequency waves to the fascia. The waves help increase blood flow and encourage tissue repair.
Haglund’s Syndrome Repair
Haglund’s syndrome is a condition where an extra part of the heel bone sticks out and causes irritation and inflammation. Just as nose sizes and shapes vary, so there can be variations in the size and shape of these bone variations. Symptoms include pain with walking, especially when you start to walk after a period of rest; painful enlarged bump on the back of the heel bone; swelling, usually with a bursitis; often associated with an overlying callus or hard skin over the area; pain while wearing closed shoes as the heel bone presses against the back of the shoe; and pain while moving the foot up (dorsiflexion). Haglund’s syndrome is different from insertional Achilles tendinitis, which is when the Achilles tendon is wearing away where it goes into the heel bone.
The minimally invasive procedure to correct Haglund’s syndrome is the endoscopic calcaneoplasty. Advantages include a minimally invasive surgery with two incisions each approximately 0.5” (1 cm) in length; decreased risk of complications including infection and nerve injury; quick return to wearing shoes; faster return to sports and activities; does not weaken the Achilles tendon after surgery; and decreased pain after surgery.
Cheilectomy
A minimally invasive cheilectomy is a surgical procedure that removes bone spurs from the big toe joint using small incisions and a burr tool. It’s typically performed on patients with a stiff, painful big toe joint that’s minimally affected by arthritis. The procedure can also involve releasing tight structures and stimulating cartilage.
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Office Based Surgery
Office-based podiatry surgery is often a good option for several procedures, including in-office plantar fasciotomies, hammer toe repairs, and ingrown toenail surgery. Soon we will be performing office-based bunionectomy under local anesthesia. AFC Tennessee believes in providing patients the specialized services to ensure the optimal experience. Our in-office surgery offers several benefits, including:
· Faster healing—patients often heal more quickly after in-office surgery.
· Cost savings—in-office surgery can be more cost-effective than hospital-based surgery.
· Improved patient outcomes.
Ready to take the first step towards pain-free feet?
Schedule your consultation with one of our podiatrists today and experience the difference expert care can make.
Ready to take the first step towards pain-free feet?
Schedule your consultation with our podiatrist today and experience the difference expert care can make.