Feet & Health Problems

Sometimes problems with the foot and ankle can be manifestations of a wider disease process. The most commonly encountered diseases or heath conditions in this context are Diabetes mellitus, Rheumatoid arthritis and the other inflammatory arthropathies, Gout, Vascular (blood vessel) disease and Neuromuscular conditions (e.g. Poliomyelitis, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and spinal/nerve injuries). 

In Diabetes, education and good foot care are very important so that problems can be recognised at an early stage. The commonest foot problems in diabetics are loss of protective sensation in the foot, foot ulcers over pressure points and Diabetic Charcot neuroarthropathy leading to deformities of the foot structure. Fortunately, surgery is rarely necessary, but our surgeons work in close association with specialist diabetic physicians and podiatrists. 

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disorder, which also affects ligaments, cartilage, tendons and joints.  A large proportion of patients with Rheumatoid arthritis have disease in their feet, which can cause pain, swelling, deformity and collapse of the structure of the foot. Often these problems require careful assessment and investigation. In general Rheumatoid arthritis should be treated under the care of a Rheumatologist, and our surgeons work closely with local expert Consultant Rheumatologists. When surgery is required, it is tailored to the individual foot or ankle problem, and will be discussed in more detail with you. Examples of the most common operations performed for severe Rheumatoid arthritis include fusion of the big toe, forefoot reconstruction, Triple fusion, Ankle Replacement.

In these situations it is important that there is liaison between your surgeon and Consultants in other medical disciplines, and other examples include Vascular surgeons, Neurologists and Neurosurgeons. At the Windsor Foot and Ankle Clinic our surgeons have close links with such specialists, both the NHS and the private sector. When an onward referral is appropriate it can therefore easily be arranged.