Redefining Quality of Life Through Advanced Foot and Ankle Surgeries
With over 20 years of extensive experience and international exposure, Dr Anuj Chawla is a renowned expert in foot and ankle disorders, sports injuries, and trauma surgery. He has contributed to numerous national and international orthopedic journals and serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma. His career includes notable tenures at premier institutions such as Maulana Azad Medical College, Safdarjung Hospital, LNJP Delhi, and Singapore’s Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
In a recent interaction with M R Yuvatha, Senior Correspondent at siliconindia, Dr Anuj Chawla shared his insights on ‘Redefining Quality of Life Through Advanced Foot and Ankle Surgeries’.
In today’s medical landscape, foot and ankle care is experiencing a remarkable evolution, combining advanced technology with compassionate expertise. Minimally invasive surgery has revolutionized foot and ankle treatments by utilizing smaller incisions and specialized instruments. This technique reduces tissue damage, bleeding, and pain, leading to faster recovery, minimal scarring, quicker mobilization, earlier rehabilitation, and accelerated bone healing significantly improving patient outcomes.
An Overlooked Factor in Foot and Ankle Care
Advanced foot and ankle procedures play a crucial role not only in physical healing but also in mental and emotional well-being, especially for patients with angio-related or injury-induced deformities. It is the overall condition, rather than the procedure alone, that profoundly affects mental health.
For instance, children with congenital deformities or flat feet often face emotional challenges due to peer mockery or physical limitations, which impact their development. Although surgery can be emotionally taxing initially due to missed school and limited mobility, the long-term benefits are significant. Support from parents and school is vital, and healthcare providers often assist in facilitating this to ease recovery and improve emotional health.
A New Era of Foot and Ankle Surgery and Rehabilitation
Modern surgical techniques in foot and ankle care have become highly personalized, leveraging advanced diagnostic tools like biomechanical analysis and pressure mapping. This process involves sensors that measure pressure points as a patient walks, helping identify problematic areas. Initial treatment often begins with non-operative methods such as orthotics, but surgery may be required if symptoms persist. Traditionally, surgeries involved large open incisions for bone realignment, whereas modern minimally invasive procedures use tiny incisions sometimes as small as half a centimeter allowing immediate mobility. This precise, data-driven approach restores natural joint function and ensures faster, pain-free recovery, enhancing overall patient outcomes.
Effective rehabilitation is essential for enhancing quality of life after complex foot or ankle surgeries. This interdisciplinary process involves physiotherapists along with orthotists or podiatrists. Physiotherapy typically begins on the first day after surgery and continues for at least three months. For patients pursuing advanced activities like running or hiking, rehabilitation may be extended to ensure optimal recovery and functionality.
Dr Anuj Chawla says, “Flat foot reconstruction remains a vital procedure, especially since foot and ankle replacements are less common in India. Age is a critical factor for long-term patient satisfaction, with surgery ideally recommended between 10 and 15 years when symptoms appear. Surgery before age 7 or 8 is discouraged, as the arch is still forming. Minimally invasive techniques using implants like HyProCure involve small incisions and allow patients to walk the next day, with most resuming activities within two months. While older patients can undergo surgery, recovery is slower, and outcomes may be less optimal compared to younger patients”.
Advanced foot and ankle procedures play a crucial role not only in physical healing but also in mental and emotional well-being, especially for patients with angio-related or injury-induced deformities.
Also Read: Dr Anuj Chawla : Pioneering Foot & Ankle Surgery as a Specialty in India
The Future of Foot and Ankle Reconstruction
As technology advances, 3D printing is increasingly being adopted in India, though it remains more prevalent in the West. It proves invaluable for patients with multiple surgeries or significant bone defects by enabling customized implants based on a 3D assessment of the opposite ankle. This technology also aids complex foot and ankle deformities by creating precise models for tailored jigs and implants, enhancing surgical accuracy. While 3D printing becomes more affordable, robotics in foot and ankle surgery is still in its infancy. Currently, robotic-assisted ankle replacements are under research but are far less common than robotic knee or hip procedures.
Nowadays, surgical outcomes are increasingly evaluated using Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), which reflect the patient’s perspective. These measures assess pain, physical abilities such as walking and travel, and crucially, the emotional impact, including feelings of depression or reluctance to participate due to foot and ankle conditions. Social participation and work involvement are also considered when determining surgical success. Even if physical activities are manageable, avoiding social outings or family vacations because of limited walking capacity can indicate the need for reconstructive surgery. This comprehensive approach ensures decisions prioritize overall patient well-being and quality of life.
Looking Ahead
As minimally invasive technology advances, patient outcomes in foot and ankle surgery have significantly improved over the past two years. Increasingly, patients from distant areas sometimes 300 to 400 kilometers away are seeking these surgeries after learning about their benefits. This growing awareness signals a promising future where minimally invasive procedures become the standard of care.
Foot and ankle surgery is currently undergoing a major transformation, already well-established in the U.S., U.K., and Europe, and is poised to gain similar prominence in India. This revolution promises to make advanced, patient-friendly treatments accessible nationwide, improving quality of life for many.
