Thursday, January 20, 2011

Minimally invasive foot surgery for chronic heel pain

We would like to focus this blog on two minimally invasive state of the art procedures that have quicker recovery times and excellent results. These procedures are excellent options if you have suffered with plantar fasciitis that hasn't improved with various conservative treatments.
1) Extra Corporeal Sound Wave Treatment (ESWT): This procedure can be performed in the offfice under local anesthesia and takes 20 minutes. This technology originally known as Lithotripsy, was used to break up kidney stones. Sound waves utilize a high intensity sonic pulse which is focused on the heel. It is believed that micro-trauma will repair and increase blood supply to the plantar fascia. ESWT is thought to break up scarring and allow the body to regenerate new and improved tissue to the area.The procedure is noninvasive with no cutting of the skin, patients can walk home in sneakers after the procedure. The day after the procedure patients are able to resume normal activities.
2) Topaz Procedure: This procedure uses Bipolar radiofrequency which is quick, simple, and minimally invavsive. Numerous small 5mm puncture holes are placed in the area of maximal tenderness in the heel in a grid like fashion. Microtenotomy of the plantar fascia is performed by placing a Topaz wand through the small puncture holes and radiofrequency is applied. No sutures are needed. Steri strips (medical band-aids) are placed on the puncture sites with a small dressing. Patients wear a boot for two weeks and then transition back into a sneaker. Patients are typically back to full activities at 4-6 weeks.
For more information on plantar fasciits please refer to our website:
carolinafootspecialists.net

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