Surgery for Heel Spur Relief

Are you suffering from chronic heel spur? Has you doctor advised you to undergo surgery for heel spur relief? Are you anxious about undergoing the surgery? Do you want to know about the surgical procedure and potential side effects it poses? If your answer is yes, then this article is meant for you! This article will enlighten you about the surgery for heel spur relief.

 

Most of the surgical procedures for heel spur relief are aimed at detaching the plantar fascia from its attachment to the heel bone. To accomplish this task, a small incision is made either on the bottom of the heel or on its side. Once the surgeon has inserted the scalpel blade, he feels for the plantar fascia. Only after he is confident that he has identified it, they cut the ligament free from the heel bone.

In the 1990s, a new procedure, known as Endoscopic Plantar Fascial Release, was developed by Dr. Steven Barrett and Dr. Steven Day in Houston, Texas. In this procedure, a small incision is place on the side of the heel where a small cannula is placed. Then an arthroscopic camera is inserted. The ligament is visualized via the camera and cut using a small surgical blade. General anesthesia is administered on the patient for this surgery. When the surgery has been completed, a gauze dressing is applied and a post operative shoe or cast is placed.

Post surgery, most of the patients are allowed to walk on the foot immediately, however, they need to restrict their activities. After almost a week, the bandage over the incision is removed and the patient is allowed to wear a good supportive shoe. While some doctors prefer to protect the foot with cast and allow their patient to use crutches.

After two weeks the cast is removed and the patient can now bath the foot. Usually it takes 3 weeks for the patient to be able to walk normally with negligible discomfort. Even after the surgery, it is suggested that the patient should wear orthotics. Since each surgeon has his own set of criteria to guide the patient through their surgery based upon their experience, you must strictly adhere to our doctors’ guidelines.

The Endoscopic Plantar Fascial Release surgery has an overall high success rate. However, surgery has some potential complex side effects. Some of these side effects include infection, continued pain as the ligament failed to separate completely, calcaneal neuroma, etc.