Foot and ankle problems can quickly escalate into a major problem that interferes with your ability to get around. Whether you have a wound that doesn’t heal or you’ve suffered an injury, North Jersey Vascular Center has a board-certified podiatrist, Kirten Parekh, DPM, on the team who provides comprehensive foot care and specializes in foot and ankle surgery. If you need expert podiatric care, call the office in Clifton, New Jersey, to schedule an appointment.
Foot and ankle wounds need the care of a podiatrist because they’re hard to heal and can lead to an infection. Seeking the help of the foot specialists is especially important if you have diabetes.
At North Jersey Vascular Center, Dr. Parekh provides comprehensive care of the lower extremity with a focus on limb salvage, diabetes, wounds, trauma and elective reconstruction of the foot and ankle.
With uncontrolled diabetes, high blood sugar damages small blood vessels and nerves, a problem that puts you at risk for foot ulcers.
Nerve damage affects the sensation in your feet, while damaged blood vessels interfere with healing. As a result, you may not feel a cut or wound, and it can rapidly turn into an ulcer as a poor blood supply hinders healing.
Foot and ankle ulcers that don’t heal need specialized attention, beginning with surgery to debride, or clean out the wound. Early surgical treatment that promotes healing can help you avoid amputation due to an infection from a nonhealing wound.
The team at North Jersey Vascular Center offers comprehensive care of your feet and ankles, including routine diabetic wound care.
Conservative measures such as immobilization and customized orthotics are the first line of treatment for most foot and ankle conditions. However, severe trauma, such as a complex fracture, often requires immediate surgery.
The following conditions may need surgery when your symptoms don’t improve with conservative treatments.
Your podiatrist at North Jersey Vascular Center has years of experience performing a wide range of foot and ankle surgeries, including:
Limb salvage refers to surgery to take out a tumor in the bones or soft tissues without removing the entire foot. In some cases, your podiatric surgeon at North Jersey Vascular Center removes bone and tissue around the tumor, then reconstructs the area.
Surgical reconstruction following limb salvage surgery may include many procedures. For example, your surgeon may need to reconnect or replace blood vessels, transfer new muscle to the area, and implant bone grafts.
Complex foot problems may need reconstructive surgery to help restore function and stability. Reconstructive surgery combines several surgical techniques during one surgery to fully repair multiple problems. Your reconstructive surgery may include:
If you need foot or ankle surgery, call North Jersey Vascular Center or schedule an appointment online.