When foot or ankle pain becomes severe enough that conservative treatments stop working, surgery may be the next step. Understanding your foot surgery options is essential for making informed decisions about your care, and knowing what each procedure involves can help ease some of the uncertainty that comes with planning a medical procedure.
At Achilles Foot and Ankle Center, we perform a wide range of surgical procedures at our state-of-the-art Ambulatory Surgery Center, the only facility of its kind in Central Virginia. From bunion corrections to ankle replacements, our team helps patients across the Richmond area find the right solution for their specific condition and lifestyle.
This guide covers 10 common foot and ankle surgeries, explaining what each addresses, who typically benefits, and what recovery looks like. Whether you’re exploring treatment for chronic heel pain, a painful toe deformity, or a recurring ankle injury, this overview will help you have a more informed conversation with your podiatrist about the best path forward.
1. Toe deformity surgery at Achilles Foot and Ankle Center
Toe deformities like bunions and hammertoes are among the most common reasons patients seek surgical care. These conditions often develop gradually over years, causing progressive pain and making it difficult to wear normal shoes or walk comfortably. When conservative treatments like wider footwear, padding, or orthotics no longer provide relief, surgery becomes a realistic option.
Option 1: Bunion correction
Bunion surgery removes the bony prominence at the base of your big toe and realigns the joint to restore normal anatomy. Your surgeon may perform an osteotomy (bone cut) to reposition the metatarsal bone, often securing it with screws or plates that remain in place permanently.
Option 2: Hammertoe correction
Hammertoe correction straightens the bent joint in your affected toe, typically by removing a small section of bone or releasing tight tendons. The surgeon may insert a temporary pin to hold the toe straight during healing, which you’ll have removed in the office weeks later.
Symptoms and diagnoses that point to surgery
You might be a candidate if you experience constant pain even at rest, difficulty finding shoes that fit, or visible deformities that interfere with daily activities. Your podiatrist will confirm the diagnosis through physical examination and X-rays that show the degree of joint misalignment.
Surgery becomes the right choice when pain limits your ability to work, exercise, or perform everyday tasks despite trying all non-surgical foot surgery options first.
What the procedure typically involves
Most toe surgeries take 30 to 90 minutes under local anesthesia with sedation, performed as an outpatient procedure at our Surgery Center. You’ll go home the same day with detailed instructions for wound care and pain management.
Recovery timeline and when you can bear weight
Expect to wear a surgical shoe for four to six weeks, with most patients bearing weight immediately in a protective boot. Full recovery to regular footwear and activities typically takes eight to twelve weeks, though complex cases may require longer.
Risks, complications, and when to get help
Potential complications include infection, nerve damage, delayed healing, or recurrence of the deformity. Contact your surgeon immediately if you develop increased redness, fever, severe pain not controlled by medication, or unusual swelling beyond the surgical site.
Costs and insurance questions to ask early
Most insurance plans cover medically necessary toe surgery, but you’ll want to verify your deductible and copay amounts before scheduling. Ask our billing team about payment plans if you have significant out-of-pocket costs after insurance coverage.
Questions to ask at your surgical consult
Bring a list asking about your specific procedure, expected pain levels, activity restrictions, and what realistic outcomes look like for your case. Also ask how many similar surgeries your podiatrist performs annually to understand their experience level.
2. Heel and forefoot pain surgery
Chronic heel and forefoot pain can persist for months or years despite physical therapy, injections, and orthotics. When conservative treatments fail to provide lasting relief and pain affects your daily function, surgical foot surgery options targeting the specific pain source become worth considering with your podiatrist.
Option 3: Plantar fasciitis surgery
Plantar fascia release surgery partially cuts the tight ligament along your arch to reduce tension and eliminate chronic heel pain. Your surgeon makes a small incision and releases about half the fascia while preserving arch stability.
Option 4: Morton’s neuroma surgery
This procedure removes the thickened nerve between your toes that causes burning pain and numbness. Your surgeon accesses the neuroma through a small incision on top of your foot and excises the affected nerve tissue.
Symptoms and diagnoses that point to surgery
You might need surgery if you have persistent pain lasting over six months despite treatment, imaging showing structural damage, or symptoms that prevent normal walking and standing activities.
What the procedure typically involves
These procedures take 30 to 60 minutes under local anesthesia at our outpatient center. You’ll receive a surgical shoe or boot before going home the same day.
Recovery timeline and when you can bear weight
Most patients walk in a protective boot immediately after plantar fascia release, while neuroma surgery may require limited weight bearing for two weeks. Full recovery typically takes six to twelve weeks.
Risks, complications, and when to get help
Possible complications include nerve damage, continued pain, or arch collapse with plantar fascia release. Call your surgeon if you develop signs of infection or severe swelling beyond normal post-surgical expectations.
Costs and insurance questions to ask early
Verify your insurance coverage for these procedures and confirm what diagnostic tests your plan requires before approving surgery. Ask about payment options for any remaining balance.
Questions to ask at your surgical consult
Ask your surgeon about their success rate with your specific condition, what percentage of patients achieve complete pain relief, and whether you’ll need physical therapy during recovery.
3. Sports injury and instability repair
Athletes and active individuals often experience tendon ruptures and ligament tears that compromise ankle stability and function. When these injuries don’t heal properly with conservative care or cause chronic instability, surgical foot surgery options restore strength and prevent recurring problems.
Option 5: Achilles tendon repair
Your surgeon reconnects the torn tendon ends through an open incision or minimally invasive approach, securing them with strong sutures to allow proper healing and restoration of pushing power.
Option 6: Lateral ankle ligament reconstruction
This procedure tightens or reconstructs damaged ligaments on your ankle’s outer side using either existing tissue or a graft to eliminate chronic rolling and instability.
Symptoms and diagnoses that point to surgery
You need surgery if you have a complete tendon rupture, chronic ankle instability with frequent sprains, or diagnostic imaging showing significant structural damage that conservative treatment cannot address.
What the procedure typically involves
These surgeries take 60 to 90 minutes under general or regional anesthesia at our Surgery Center. You’ll receive a cast or boot before discharge the same day.
Recovery timeline and when you can bear weight
Expect no weight bearing for four to six weeks after Achilles repair, progressing slowly to full activity by four to six months. Ligament reconstruction typically allows partial weight bearing sooner.
Sports injury repairs require patience and strict adherence to your surgeon’s protocol to achieve full strength and prevent re-injury.
Risks, complications, and when to get help
Complications include re-rupture, infection, nerve damage, or persistent weakness. Contact your surgeon immediately if you feel a sudden pop or develop severe swelling.
Costs and insurance questions to ask early
Verify your insurance coverage for both surgery and extensive physical therapy that follows. Ask about pre-authorization requirements your plan may mandate.
Questions to ask at your surgical consult
Ask about your surgeon’s re-rupture rates, when you can return to specific sports, and what rehabilitation milestones you’ll need to achieve before progressing activities.
4. Reconstruction and fracture repair
Complex foot deformities and traumatic fractures often require surgical reconstruction to restore proper alignment and function. These foot surgery options address structural problems that cause progressive disability or injuries that won’t heal correctly on their own, requiring your surgeon’s expertise to rebuild damaged bones and joints.
Option 7: Flatfoot reconstruction
This procedure corrects collapsed arches by realigning bones, transferring tendons, and sometimes fusing joints to create a stable foot structure that reduces pain and improves walking mechanics.
Option 8: Foot and ankle fracture repair
Your surgeon uses plates, screws, or rods to realign and stabilize broken bones, ensuring they heal in the correct position for proper joint function and weight distribution.
Symptoms and diagnoses that point to surgery
Surgery becomes necessary when you have severe deformity causing difficulty walking, fractures with displaced bone fragments, or progressive collapse despite bracing and orthotics.
What the procedure typically involves
These surgeries take 90 minutes to several hours under general anesthesia, depending on complexity. You’ll receive a cast or boot and remain overnight for some complex reconstructions.
Recovery timeline and when you can bear weight
Expect no weight bearing for six to twelve weeks, with full recovery taking six months to one year for complex reconstructions.
Reconstruction surgeries require significant commitment to your recovery protocol, but they can dramatically improve your quality of life when other options have failed.
Risks, complications, and when to get help
Complications include hardware failure, nonunion, infection, or nerve damage. Contact your surgeon if you develop increased pain or notice your cast becoming too tight.
Costs and insurance questions to ask early
These complex procedures often involve higher costs due to surgical time and hardware. Verify your out-of-pocket maximum with your insurance carrier before proceeding.
Questions to ask at your surgical consult
Ask about hardware removal expectations, your specific healing timeline, and what realistic outcomes you should expect given your deformity severity.
5. Ankle joint surgery for arthritis and injury
Ankle arthritis and chronic joint damage can severely limit your mobility when cartilage wears away or injuries create persistent instability. These foot surgery options range from minimally invasive procedures to joint reconstructions that restore function when years of wear or trauma have destroyed your ankle joint.
Option 9: Ankle arthroscopy
Your surgeon inserts a tiny camera through small incisions to remove damaged cartilage, bone spurs, or scar tissue causing joint pain and limited motion.
Option 10: Ankle arthritis surgery, fusion vs replacement
Fusion permanently connects your ankle bones to eliminate painful motion, while replacement preserves movement by inserting an artificial joint similar to hip or knee replacements.
Symptoms and diagnoses that point to surgery
You need surgery when you have severe arthritis confirmed by X-rays, chronic pain limiting daily activities, or joint instability after conservative treatments fail.
What the procedure typically involves
Arthroscopy takes 30 to 60 minutes outpatient, while fusion or replacement requires 90 minutes to two hours under general anesthesia with possible overnight observation.
Recovery timeline and when you can bear weight
Arthroscopy allows immediate weight bearing in a boot, while fusion or replacement requires six to twelve weeks of protected healing before full weight bearing.
Ankle joint surgeries offer long-term relief when arthritis or injury makes every step painful despite exhausting all conservative treatment options.
Risks, complications, and when to get help
Complications include infection, nerve damage, hardware failure, or continued pain. Contact your surgeon if you develop fever or worsening symptoms.
Costs and insurance questions to ask early
Joint replacement and fusion involve significant costs for hardware and extended recovery. Verify your insurance coverage and authorization requirements early.
Questions to ask at your surgical consult
Ask whether fusion or replacement better suits your activity level and age, what realistic outcomes you should expect, and how long before returning to work.
Your next step
Understanding your foot surgery options gives you the foundation to make informed decisions about your care, but reading about procedures can’t replace a conversation with an experienced podiatrist who examines your specific condition. Every patient faces unique circumstances, and what works for one person may not suit your anatomy, activity level, or recovery goals.
Schedule a consultation at Achilles Foot and Ankle Center to discuss whether surgery makes sense for your situation. Our team evaluates your diagnostic imaging, reviews your treatment history, and explains exactly what surgical and non-surgical options fit your needs. We’ll answer your questions honestly about recovery timelines, expected outcomes, and what life looks like after your procedure.
Don’t let foot or ankle pain control your daily activities any longer. Our state-of-the-art Surgery Center serves patients throughout Central Virginia with the expertise and technology needed to get you back to the activities you love. Call today to take the first step toward lasting relief.
