Is Flat Foot Surgery Worth It?

Flat feet is a common health issue that we can find among people who live out there. In fact, around 25% of the world population is affected by it. In case if you are having flat feet, the arch bones that you can find in your feet would be too low while you are standing up. This is not a life-threatening condition. Hence, you will even be able to live with it for the rest of your life. However, it can lead you to pain and difficulties in walking.

You will tend to think about going for a flat foot surgery and reduce the struggles that you are facing. Keep on reading and we will share more details on flat foot surgery.

Why should you go ahead with flat foot surgery?

One of the best things about flat foot surgery is that it is capable of delivering a permanent solution to any person struggling with flat foot problems. After the surgery, you will not have to worry too much about having flat feet. That’s because the surgery can deliver positive results for everyone.

flat foot surgery

The flat foot surgery is low risk surgery. You will not be risking anything as you go ahead with it. Hence, it is possible for you to keep the peace of mind and go through the surgical process. After having flat foot surgery, you will not have to worry about any extra treatments after you complete healing. This will be another prominent benefit that you can get along with the surgery.

On the other hand, flat foot surgery is a proven method that can restore your mobility. Hence, you will get the opportunity to enjoy spending time doing more of the things that you love regardless if it’s playing basketball or walking your dog.

Who can go ahead with flat foot surgery?

Not everyone is an ideal candidate for flat foot surgery. It is important for you to understand whether you are a perfect candidate for this surgery or not. If flat feet is not bothering you, you can live with it, and there is no need to go for surgery unnecessarily. However, people who are encountering struggles with flat feet may think about going ahead with the surgical procedure. This is where you will receive assistance to overcome the health problem that creates a negative impact on your overall life quality.

There are no age restrictions that you need to adhere to as you go ahead with this type of surgery. In fact, people who are aged above 65 will be able to go for this surgery and receive the positive results that come along with it. Here are some of the factors that would determine whether you are a perfect candidate for flat feet surgery or not.

  • You have flat feet that is diagnosed with x-ray
  • You have lost your ability to engage with certain activities because of flat feet
  • You are dealing with orthopedic pain
  • You have not got positive results out of the non-surgical techniques you follow to overcome flat feet pain
  • You are in good health and a surgery would not cause any negative impacts on your general health.
flat feet that is diagnosed with x-ray

How does flat foot surgery look like?

It is also worthy to understand what flat foot surgery looks like before you experience it. The main objective of flat foot surgery is to correct the proper bone structure of your flat feet. This would be done according to your body type and your ligaments as well. There is no straightforward approach available to follow that’s because the specific surgery done would be different from one person to another. Hence, you should get in touch with a surgeon and learn specific information about your surgery before you go ahead.

There are three main types of surgeries that people with flat feet can go through. They are as follows:

  • Osteotomies – This is where bones will be cut and slit to different locations to help you overcome flat feet.
  • Tendon transfers – This is where the tendon will be moved from one bone you have to another bone, so that you will be able to overcome deformity.
  • Fusions – During this surgical procedure, the joints will be fused. Along with that, you can overcome pain and deformity effectively. 
flat feet Tendon transfers

It is important to select the right surgical treatment procedure for both feet at the same time. Then you will be able to easily overcome the struggles that you have to face.

You will need to go to a hospital and get the surgery done. In most of the instances, you will have to spend around one night at the hospital to get the surgery as well. The surgery is not a complex one, and it will be performed under anesthesia. During the procedure, your surgeon will restore the bone that is running from the heel to the correct positioning. In order to do that, the surgeon might go ahead and place a metal screw. On the other hand, there are situations where the surgeon would insert different other hardware, like metal plates. This will help you to get the natural arch positioning of your feet created accordingly.

After the surgery, you will have to experience numbness in the feet. That’s because your feet will be numb with the anesthesia. Moreover, you will be provided with oral pain medications as well. You will need to keep your feet in one place throughout the surgery. It would take around 6 weeks for you to recover from the it. During this time period, you should not be putting any excessive weight on your feet.

Final Thoughts

Now you know how the flat foot surgery would look like. While keeping this in mind, you can go ahead and make the decision to go ahead with the flat foot surgery after talking with your doctor. If flat feet is bothering you, this would be the best method available to overcome all those struggles when you do any activities. 

Is flat foot surgery worth it
Avatar photo
V. Deol
I am the owner and main Editor at The Flat Feet. With a degree in PE and years of research I know how to deal with flat feet. Whether you are a baseball player, runner, nurse, etc, I feel confident to suggest you the right footwear to you.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *