1) Using specially designed instruments, podiatrists are able to treat bunions, corns, hammertoes and callouses through very small openings in the skin. Consequently, there is less soft tissue work. This often results in considerably less post operative discomfort and quicker return to work and normal activities. Many people need nothing stronger than Aspirin or Tylenol post operatively.
2) The minimal incision technique can be performed under local anaesthetic in an office setting. Patients can read, listen to music or watch T.V. during the procedure. Most doctors consider local anaesthetic safer than general anaesthetic.
3) Expensive hospital beds and operating rooms are usually not necessary. This results in substantial savings for the government and medical plans.
4) Casts and crutches are usually not required with the minimal incision technique. Instead, an adhesive tape and gauze dressing is used for four to six weeks.
5) The minimal incision technique can be more cosmetically appealing because the scars are much smaller.
6) Following the minimal incision technique, people tend to get back to work and normal activities quicker. This is very important to people who run their own businesses or cannot be away from work for excessive lengths of time.
When can I return to work?
Someone who sits most of the day may return to work as soon as one week following the minimal incision bunion technique. Someone who stands all day needs approximately six to eight weeks off. The more you can sit, the sooner you may go back to work.
How often do I return for checkups?
Following the minimal incision bunion technique, you return to my office 3 days later for a checkup. Then I change the dressing once a week for 5 weeks. On the sixth week you may remove the dressing yourself. You then return six weeks later and every three months for a year for checkups. The number of visits can be reduced for out of town patients.
What other foot problems do you treat?
In addition to bunions, I also treat corns, hammertoes and callouses with the minimal incision technique. I treat ingrown nails with the carbon dioxide laser. I also treat heel spur pain with endoscopic plantar fasciotomy. All procedures are performed under local anaesthetic in the comfort of my office.
Visit our website: http://www.footcare.net
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