Finding a Foot and Ankle Surgeon

Foot and ankle surgeries are not quite like every other type of orthopedic surgery. What you really want is not a generalized orthopedic surgeon but one who specializes specifically on these two areas. Begin your search with a list of certified foot and ankle surgeons: for example, all members of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society have not only completed medical school and five years of orthopaedic training, but have been specially trained in foot and ankle diseases. Once a list is of certified surgeons is in front of you, it’s time to identify the best of the bunch for you.

 

 

 

There are three general methods to go about making what usually turns out to be a long, overwhelming list into a shorter, more manageable one. Patients often choose to either narrow their search area by location, recommendation, or price.

 

Location is inarguably a crucial factor for patients who, quite literally, have trouble getting around on their own two feet. The length and difficulty of traveling to a surgical center may outweigh the possible benefits of the facility or the reputation of the surgeons. Remember that not only will you have to travel to the operating room, but you will also have to travel from it—in the often delicate state of post-op recovery, this may not be the best idea. If you do decide that the best surgeon for your case is found outside your typical area, then make proper accommodations beforehand.

 

Personal recommendations are often the tipping point when a patient makes the final decision. There is no better guarantee than an argument delivered passionately and in-person by a figure that you trust: a grandmother who had her ankle operated on, a coworker who suffered from fractured toes, a long-time physician who vouches for a colleague. Word-of-mouth recommendations should not take the place of careful objective research, but they can certainly be a big influence.

 

Finally, price is the elephant in the room that lurks over the heads of many. It might be that you are completely uninsured; it might be that the portion of cost that your company doesn’t cover is still a significant number; it may be that your healthcare plan refuses to support the specific operation that you are aiming for. Whatever the reason, it never hurts to be a little frugal when searching for a foot or ankle surgeon. Prices for the exact same procedure can fluctuate wildly across different regions of the US, and even if surgeons’ fees may appear stable, don’t forget to factor in the hospital and anesthesiologist fees.

 

 

And finally, make sure to have a face-to-face consultation with your potential foot or ankle surgeon before you sign the paperwork. A well-established reputation and a history of successful operations are wonderful for understanding what a surgeon is like in the operating room, but such statistics will tell you little about his or her bedside manner. During preliminary consultations, your surgeon should be willing to discuss all options, risks, and possible complications with you—not just the glowing facts, but also the sobering ones. You should feel as if you have the space to ask questions and address concerns before entering the operating room.