Minimally Invasive Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery provides a safe and effective treatment for various foot and ankle issues, including bunions, fractures, and hammertoes. At Methuen Podiatry Associates LLP, located in Methuen, Massachusetts, board-certified podiatric surgeons and wound care specialists Nicholas A. Ciotola, DPM, Dennis Ryan, DPM, and the team use minimally invasive surgery to treat a wide range of podiatry conditions. Call the office to request a minimally invasive surgery consultation, or make your appointment online today.

What is minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery?

Minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery uses smaller incisions than traditional open surgery, allowing for quicker recovery times and fewer risks. 

At Methuen Podiatry Associates LLP, the team performs almost all foot and ankle surgeries using a minimally invasive approach. The board-certified foot and ankle surgeons’ knowledge and expertise ensure positive treatment outcomes and lasting success. In fact, after surgery, many patients report less scarring, pain, and stiffness.

What types of issues can benefit from minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery?

The Methuen Podiatry Associates LLP team uses minimally invasive surgery to treat various foot and ankle issues, including:

• Achilles tendinitis
• Achilles tendon tears
• Bone spur removal
• Arthrex® Bunionectomy bunion removal surgery
• Hammertoe surgery
• Ligament repair
• Fracture repair

You might be a candidate for minimally invasive surgery if you have a slow-healing ulcer or a diabetic wound. Skin grafts or skin graft substitutes can promote healing and reduce your risk of infection.

How do I prepare for minimally invasive surgery?

Before recommending minimally invasive foot or ankle surgery, your Methuen Podiatry Associates LLP provider completes a preoperative exam. They review your medical records, ask about your symptoms, and order lab tests, including bloodwork and urinalysis.

Let your podiatrist know about the medicines, supplements, and vitamins you take. They may ask you to stop taking certain medications (like blood thinners) in the days before surgery to prevent complications. The night before your procedure, fast for at least 12 hours and drink only water.

What does minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery involve?

Your Methuen Podiatry Associates LLP provider completes foot and ankle surgery at a nearby hospital or surgical facility.

Before the procedure, you change into a gown and lie down on an operating table. Then, your provider administers a general anesthetic through an IV, causing you to fall asleep. 

Your surgeon makes several small incisions above the treatment site and inserts special surgical tools through them, while taking X-rays during the operation so your surgeon can see what they’re doing.

Your surgeon removes the diseased or damaged tissue and makes the necessary repairs. Then, they close your incisions, wrap them with bandages, and move you to a recovery room. It takes several hours for the anesthetic to wear off, so a friend or family member needs to drive you home.

Call Methuen Podiatry Associates LLP to see if you can benefit from minimally invasive surgery, or request your appointment online today.