Foot and ankle surgery

We currently have three consultant foot and ankle surgeons working at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. These are Mr Taylor, Miss Roslee and Miss Kelsall. A dedicated team of surgeons support the consultants and will ensure you receive the best treatment possible.

The types of procedures we offer are outlined below:

Forefoot osteotomy surgery

A forefoot osteotomy is an operation used to treat poor alignment of the toes. A small incision is made in the skin over the affected area. The surgeon will then reshape the bone and/or operate on the tendons. Metalwork may be inserted to support the bones into their new position. This surgery is usually performed under general anaesthetic with no inpatient stay required.

Foot and ankle injections

An ankle injection involves inserting a long acting local anaesthetic combined with a steroid into the ankle joint. These are sometimes performed in outpatients without a general anaesthetic, although more complex cases may be performed in theatre under a light general anaesthetic lasting about five minutes. It takes approximately 7-10 days for the steroid to take effect, so results are not immediate. The effects of the injection tend to be temporary and often wear off within a few weeks or months.

Ankle arthroscopy

Ankle arthroscopy may be performed if you have a stiff, painful or unstable ankle. It can be used to diagnose the cause of ankle problems, to help with the management of osteoarthritis/damaged cartilage/bone, or to remove damaged cartilage and inflamed soft tissue. The procedure involves keyhole surgery through two small incisions at the front of the ankle. It is usually performed under general anaesthetic, as a day case.

Ankle fusion

Ankle fusion is a surgical procedure to fuse the bones that form the ankle joint. The procedure involves removing all residual cartilage of the joint and preparing the bony surfaces. The joint is then placed in the correct position and several different techniques can be used to stabilise the bone (usually two large metal screws) until the bones fuse completely. This removes all movement from the ankle joint but should make it less painful.

Ankle replacement

Ankle replacement procedures involve resurfacing the bones of the ankle joint with metal and plastic implants. This procedure preserves most of the up and down movement in the ankle joint.