Genetic foot deformities affect a majority of the population. These inherited conditions can severely impact mobility and quality of life, often causing lifelong handicaps. Intervening surgically to treat these developmental musculoskeletal defects becomes necessary to eliminate impairment.
Modern and advanced orthopedic medicine has expanded its horizon beyond treating fractures and bone-related injuries. With innovations like foot and ankle plates, orthopedic surgeons can now address complex genetic abnormalities for better results. These implants stabilize the incompletely or incorrectly formed bony structures for optimal alignment.
What are Genetic Foot Deformities?
Genetic foot deformities are congenital and inherited structural abnormalities that affect the bones, muscles, and ligaments of the foot. The conditions that fall under this category are often caused by hereditary factors and pregnancy-related mishaps. The most common types of deformities include:
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Flatfoot: In this condition, the arch of the feet is flattened, causing the entire sole to touch the ground.
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Clubfoot: An abnormality in which the foot is twisted out of shape and position.
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Ankle vagus: In this deformity, the ankle is tilted towards the outside, which affects the alignments.
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Tarsal Coalition: In this foot deformity, there is an abnormal connection between two or more bones of the foot.
Challenges of Treating Genetic Foot Deformities
These disorders can be challenging to treat, especially if the cases are severe. Some of the commonly observed difficulties are:
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Complex structural problems can pose a challenge that requires a thorough assessment before surgery.
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Higher risk of recurrence if not properly treated.
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Tightened soft tissue surrounding the deformity can prevent recovery and alignment.
How do Foot and Ankle Plates Work in Generic Ankle Deformities and Other Such Cases?
The foot and ankle plates are specialized orthopedic implants that play an important role in the restoration and recovery of deformities. These titanium and stainless steel-derived orthopedic equipment help withstand heavy body weight while allowing for a complete recovery. Let us have a look at how its features assist in keeping up with the above-mentioned challenges.
Key Features of Foot and Ankle Plates That Make Them Effective
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Corrects the Alignment during the Recovery Phase: Plates help by realigning the bone and muscles into their original position.
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Stabilize the Underdeveloped Bones: A high-quality titanium foot and ankle plate holds the fractured or deformed bone sturdily in the same place, avoiding any risk of movement. This stabilization is necessary for less-developed bones that are under the pressure of the surrounding soft tissue.
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Lesser Disruption to Surrounding Soft Tissue: By providing stability, these plates enhance blood flow and nutrient delivery to the affected area, facilitating faster recovery. Improved circulation aids in the healing process, allowing patients to regain mobility more quickly.
Clinical Outcomes and Patient Benefits
Modern surgical interventions using foot and ankle plates have shown remarkable success in treating genetic ankle deformities, with studies highlighting significant improvements in alignment, mobility, and patient quality of life.
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High Surgical Correction Cases: As per a study, over 70% of patients with a history of Charcot Foot achieved successful restoration of proper alignment after surgical procedures involving foot and ankle plates.
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Functional Improvements: Patients report increased mobility and reduced pain, with visual analog scale scores dropping significantly post-surgery.
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Patient Satisfaction: More than 85% of individuals express improved quality of life after their surgical interventions, reflecting the positive impact on daily activities.
What are the Potential Complications after Surgery?
While foot and ankle plates are highly effective in treating genetic foot deformities, there is always little to no risk of complications, such as:
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Plate Loosening may occur due to poor bone quality or improper screw fixation.
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Surgical site infections can occur but are managed effectively with antibiotics and proper care of the surgical area.
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In some cases, bones may fail to heal properly, requiring additional interventions such as bone grafting or further fixation.
It is important to note that these complications are not very common and largely depend on the surgical process, the patient's adherence to post-surgical management protocols, and the quality of the implants used. At Sharma Orthopedic, we prioritize high-quality materials and rigorous manufacturing standards to minimize risks associated with implant quality, ensuring optimal outcomes for our patients.
Why do Surgeons Choose Foot and Ankle Plate Surgery Over Conventional Approach?
There are plenty of benefits to choosing foot and ankle plate surgery over traditional soft-tissue surgeries for treating foot deformity. They are as follows:
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Reduced Risk of Recurrence: Surgical methods involving plates have a lower chance of deformities returning compared to soft-tissue procedures. This is because plates provide stable support that maintains bone alignment over time.
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Vascular Supply Preserved: The locking ankle plates do not need full contact with the bone and surrounding tissues, which prevents disruption to the periosteum and soft tissues.
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Better Patient Comfort: The reduced implant prominence and better composition materials lower the chances of any reaction-based implant removal.
Reshape Your Life with This Orthopedic Innovation
The foot and ankle plates have brought in a major shift in the treatment of genetic bone deformities by inculcating stability, quick recovery, and reduced revision surgeries. These advancements in orthopedic medicine will improve both the patient outcomes and the quality of their lives.
At Sharma Orthopedic, we focus on creating a range of orthopedic implants that support the motto of reshaping and bringing a transformative change to your life. Our innovative foot and ankle plates are designed to meet each requirement of the patients.