When you are experiencing pain in the heel area of your foot, and the situation has continued for more than six months, it may be a condition called Plantar Fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a ligament along the arch of the foot that reaches to the heel bottom and joins with the ball of the foot. Persistent inflammation of the ligament, through excessive athletic activities or due to injuries, can result in damage to the heel area that may feel like a burning sensation or dull to sharp pain when walking.
General Surgical Information
Surgery for plantar fasciitis is generally performed as an out-patient procedure. This means that the operation is done in a medical clinic or hospital and that you will be able to go home after you have recovered from the surgery. You will be given either a local or general anesthesia so that you will not be in pain during the procedure. If you are given a local anesthesia, the affected foot will be numbed for the operation. You will need to have someone accompany you who will drive you home when you are released. You will be instructed on post-operative care if any physical therapy will be required, and when you will be able to resume normal daily activities.
Types of Operations
Traditional, or Open, Surgery: There will be one long incision, either on the inside or the bottom of the foot, which allows the surgeon to see the ligament and any bone (heel) spur. The surgeon may need to cut away any portion of the ligament that thickened due to chronic inflammation or to remove a section of the ligament. If the size, shape, and location of any bone spur dictates that it needs to be removed, the surgeon will do this during the operation. The incision will be closed with sutures that may dissolve on their own or need to be removed during a post-operative appointment. The actual operation will take about 40 to 60 minutes.
