What is Podiatric Surgery?

You are here because you are experiencing discomfort caused by one or several foot ailments. In some cases, surgery is required to correct the condition and relieve your pain.

An ambulatory patient is a walking patient, "the patient who can walk into our rooms to receive surgery can walk out after surgery." Mr.Stefan R. Edwards Dip.Pod.Surg., Podiatric Surgeon

It is now over thirty years since the original pioneers began the development of Podiatric Ambulatory Surgery. They sought the means of ending discomfort and suffering for a wider cross section of the population. They reasoned that if the necessity for hospitalization and prolonged disability was eliminated, that more individuals were able to have the surgery that they required. The main objective of Podiatric surgeons involved in the development of Podiatric Ambulatory Surgery, was to aid the sufferer with a minimum of inconvenience, discomfort, and expense.

Your Surgery - what to expect

Pre Operative Consultation
Once the decision for surgery has been made, a pre-surgical appointment with our nurse is usually organised. This is a few days (up to a week) before the planned procedure. At this appointment we ensure that all relevant details of your health and wellbeing are known to us. Sometimes your blood pressure is taken along with a few other tests; often blood tests are required (which are undertaken at Medlab).

As much as possible, we try and eliminate patients feeling anxious or unsure about anything to do with the procedure. Therefore our nurse outlines what to expect. She explains what to do regarding caring for your feet/foot before surgery, the day of surgery and what to expect after surgery. If apparatus is necessary after surgery our nurse will explain them - for example how to actually use crutches or why a special shoe is required. All apparatus is organised by our clinic for you, and it is inclusive in the initial quotation. In regards to children having surgical, we expect a parent or guardian to be there throughout the procedure. Depending on the age of the child we encourage the parent/guardian to come into theatre. This is to ensure the child is as comfortable and as secure as they can be, as we understand that however small the procedure is, it can put strain on the child and their family. So we endeavour to make the experience as positive and comfortable as possible.

The Day of Surgery
Most of our procedures are undertaken under local anaesthetic in our own operating theatre. Some smaller procedures take place in our normal operating rooms - in which case the procedures are less involved and take less time. If the surgery is in the operating theatre, then the nurse will show you in to a room and  ask you to change into a gown - just in order to keep our operating theatre as clean as possible. At this stage the foot area to be treated is made numb by anaesthetic. You will then be escorted next door into the operating theatre. Before surgery it is recommended that you go to the toilet. Normally there are only two or three people in the surgery room, depending on the surgical procedure. Generally the process takes a minimum of one hour and up to 3.5 hours for more involved procedures. After surgery, the nurse will help you back into the room where your belongings are, where you can then relax and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit.Your feet will be elevated. After approximately 20 or 30 minutes, the nurse may help you get dressed and ready for your departure home. It is recommended to have a ride organised.

Post Operative Surgery
We understand that after a surgical procedure, support and communication is vital. The nurse will again explain what to expect, and a written sheet with useful information regarding your operation is given to you, as well as contact numbers for after hours enquiries. After your surgery, an appointment is made for you, for us to inspect and dress the area. This is usually 2 or 3 days after the surgery. Depending on the type of surgery that has been undertaken, dressing appointments are made, generally every 3 to 4 days until the wound Is healed. Stitches are removed usually about 2 weeks after surgery. Our dressing appointments are all  inclusive in our initial quotation, so there are no hidden costs. We have decided to incorporate these services inclusively as it is our philosophy to offer the best service possible to achieve the best outcome.