Advanced Technologies

You should never have to live with heel pain. When you experience continued discomfort in your feet or ankles, don’t think that it has to stay that way. The knowledgeable podiatrists at The Foot & Ankle Center have decades of experience in correcting even the most advanced conditions and injuries. We use the latest, most advanced technologies to help heal any painful podiatric issues you may have.

If you are experiencing persistent pain in your feet or ankles, changes in your toenails or surrounding skin, severe cracking or peeling, or blisters on your feet, please contact us at (314) 487-9300 to schedule your appointment.

Digital Orthotics Scanning

If you’re suffering from heel pain, bunions, or any other foot pain, you may begin considering getting orthotics. Designed as removable shoe inserts, orthotics are generally comfortable and functional as they work to alleviate the pain you experience. Traditional orthotics have been made by creating a plaster cast of a patient’s foot. Now, current advances in technology allow the podiatrists at The Foot & Ankle Center to create inserts through digital orthotic scanning.

What is Digital Orthotic Scanning?

This process allows our technicians to create an accurate 3-D digital model of your foot without the plaster. Our scanner creates a detailed image of your foot, showing the structure and potential abnormalities that may be present. This information is immediately sent to the orthotic lab, and we will begin making orthotics as unique as your feet are.

What are the Benefits of Digital Orthotic Scanning?

This new method offers a large array of benefits for our patients and our doctors, including the following:

  • Faster, more immediate results and analyses
  • Greater precision
  • Detailed results present on each digital orthotic scanning session

In order to properly diagnose your heel pain, schedule an appointment online or call our office at (314) 487-9300. Our podiatrists will recommend the proper steps to recovery.

Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)

Patients who suffer from chronic heel pain from plantar fasciitis might not even remember how it feels to go about their day pain-free. When conservative methods make little to no difference in your chronic heel pain, we recommend trying Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT).

What is Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy?

Sometimes referred to as Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT), this non-invasive procedure uses powerful sonic waves to safely and effectively heal plantar fasciitis. After you are placed under local anesthesia, the experts at The Foot & Ankle Center direct the sonic waves to your heel, which will stimulate your body’s healing response. This alternative therapy for heel pain only lasts about 30 minutes and has a short recovery time associated with it.

What are the Benefits of ESWT?

ESWT is clinically proven to improve your chronic heel pain. Here are the many benefits that our patients experience:

  • Safe, non-invasive procedure
  • No risk of infection
  • No scarring, stitches, or sutures
  • Very little downtime with faster healing
  • Cost-effective with impressive results

If you’ve had plantar fasciitis for 6 months or more and no other treatment has worked, then ESWT might be right for you. While the procedure is safe for several patients, it is not recommended for pregnant women, those with neurological foot disease or vascular foot disease, those with pacemakers, or patients who take medications that interfere with blood clotting.

Don’t let chronic heel pain keep you down. Call the experts at The Foot & Ankle Center at (314) 487-9300 to learn how ESWT can benefit you!

Stem Cell Therapy

Did you know you can tap into your own body’s healing abilities to help decrease your foot and ankle pain? You can now, thanks to our stem cell therapy at The Foot & Ankle Center.

What is Stem Cell Therapy?

Stem cells are the building blocks of the body’s tissues and systems. Commonly found in bone marrow and body fat, these cells help with building and repairing damaged tissue. Stem cell therapy at The Foot & Ankle Center involves working with a human cell allograft known as AmnioFix. This bioactive tissue matrix allograft contains several extracellular matrix proteins, growth factors, cytokines, and other specialty proteins – elements that help preserve and repair your feet and ankles.

When our foot doctors inject the stem cells into the affected region, your body will begin recruiting cells to start the healing process. You will also notice dramatically decreased swelling in your feet or ankles. Within a few short weeks, you will notice a great reduction or complete resolution in your pain.

What are the Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy?

This type of advanced regenerative medicine offers our patients several benefits, including:

  • A viable alternative to surgery
  • Faster healing with little to no downtime
  • Use your body’s natural healing powers to alleviate pain
  • Treats various conditions of the foot and ankle, including scar tissue, inflammation, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and more

Want to learn more about how stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine can help you heal? Call our doctors at (314) 487-9300 to schedule your appointment!

MLS Laser Therapy

If you’ve dealt with chronic heel pain, Achilles tendonitis, nail fungus, or other persistent ailments of the foot and ankle, you’ve probably tried nearly every treatment. Even when pain seems interminable, there is now hope. Experience relief with MLS Laser Therapy at The Foot & Ankle Center!

What is MLS Laser Therapy?

The Class IV Multi-wave Locked System (MLS) Laser safely and effectively uses specific wavelengths of light that have a strong anti-inflammatory, anti-edema effect on tissues that are exposed to the laser. Painful conditions accompanied by swelling or inflammation benefit from this technology. Photons of laser energy painlessly penetrate deep into tissue and accelerate cellular healing. As a result of exposure to the MLS Laser, the cells of your tendons, ligaments, and muscles repair themselves faster.

What Does MLS Laser Therapy Treat?

This innovative pain management effectively treats the pain and inflammation of the following:

  • Achilles tendonitis
  • Arthritis and bursitis
  • Nail fungus
  • Neuroma
  • Neuropathy
  • Occupational injuries
  • Plantar fascilitis
  • Post-surgical swelling and bruising
  • Sports injuries, sprains, and strains

What are the Benefits of MLS Laser Therapy?

Experience the many benefits that MLS Laser Therapy provides, including the following:

  • Non-invasive and painless procedure, making it a viable alternative to surgery
  • No associated side effects
  • Quick pain relief with treatment times averaging 8 minutes
  • Fast healing with little to no downtime
  • Use your body’s natural healing powers to alleviate pain
  • Treats a multitude of foot and ankle problems, including scar tissue, inflammation, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and more
  • Immediate blood circulation improvement in the feet

You don’t have to wait to find relief. Call the experts at The Foot & Ankle Center today at (314) 487-9300 to learn more about our MLS Laser Therapy!

PinPointe™ FootLaser®

Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is a chronic condition that is tough to treat. Patients who have had this condition often experienced pain and embarrassment due to their unsightly toenails. For those with diabetes or immune disorders, toenail fungus can lead to serious health issues. Fortunately, a new, innovative technology can help tackle this problem effectively at The Foot & Ankle Center: PinPointe™ FootLaser®.

What is PinPointe™ FootLaser®?

As the first FDA-cleared laser for the treatment of toenail fungus, PinPointe™ FootLaser® works to make discolored nails clearer and healthier in appearance. This in-office procedure is easy and convenient; it takes about 30 minutes to complete, is nearly painless, and has minimal associated side effects. Toenail fungus is notoriously difficult to treat since the infection lies under and within the nail. While various products and treatments struggle to reach the fungus, PinPointe™ FootLaser® safely penetrates the nail itself, directly addressing the root of the issue.

What are the Benefits of PinPointe™ FootLaser®?

This type of advanced regenerative medicine offers our patients several benefits, including:

  • A viable alternative to surgery
  • Faster healing with little to no downtime
  • Use your body’s natural healing powers to alleviate pain
  • Treats various conditions of the foot and ankle, including scar tissue, inflammation, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and more
  • Considered to be the gold standard of toenail fungus treatment
  • Effectively treats the infected area without damaging the nail or surrounding tissue
  • Uses top-of-the-line technology to kill the pathogens that cause toenail fungus
  • Safe with no total-body side effects
  • Patients often experience improvement after only one treatment

If you’re ready to say goodbye to your toenail fungus, don’t wait another day. Call the knowledgeable doctors at The Foot & Ankle Center at (314) 487-9300 to learn more or schedule your appointment!

MRI

When you’re experiencing pain in your foot and ankle, you are often eager to find out what’s wrong and how to fix the problem. If this is the case, the experienced podiatrists at The Foot & Ankle Center may recommend diagnosing the problem and determining the best course of action through MRI.

What is MRI?

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a sophisticated piece of equipment that produces incredibly accurate 3-D images of your feet and ankles. A combination of large magnet and radio waves safely creates these images, which portray the bones and soft tissues of the afflicted area. Unlike X-rays and CT scans, MRI uses no radiation while it diagnoses a variety of ailments including arthritis, fractures, infections, tumors, and injuries of the tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.

What are the Benefits of MRI?

Due to anatomical complexity, the lower extremities, particularly the feet, are quite difficult to map through imaging. MRI is extremely beneficial to both doctors and patients in properly diagnosing and treating a variety of foot and ankle issues. Benefits of MRI include:

  • High-quality 3-D images that provide in-depth findings about the afflicted area
  • No long-term side effects
  • No radiation needed
  • Revelation of certain conditions that many other tests can’t show

While many of our patients can benefit from MRI, there are some with particular conditions who may not be a good candidate for this treatment. These include patients who have:

  • Artificial heart valves
  • Conditions that require a pacemaker
  • Electronic inner ear implants
  • Electronic stimulators
  • Implanted pumps
  • Surgical clips in the head or metal fragments in the eyes

Have you been experiencing pain in your feet or ankles? Call the experts at The Foot & Ankle Center at (314) 487-9300 to learn more about MRI or schedule your appointment.

Diagnostic Ultrasound

Heel pain, tendonitis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, and other foot and ankle ailments can negatively affect your quality of life. When you call the friendly podiatrists at The Foot & Ankle Center with these concerns, we may suggest using diagnostic ultrasound to uncover the problem.

What is Diagnostic Ultrasound?

Ultrasound effectively diagnoses a large array of foot and ankle issues, especially soft tissue conditions like plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, tendon tears, tumors, bursitis, and so much more. We also use it to help us inject cortisone correctly and precisely. This tool uses sound waves, which bounce from the targeted area back to a recording device and produce an image of your foot or ankle.

What are the Benefits of Diagnostic Ultrasound?

Our patients are happy with our diagnostic ultrasound and experience countless benefits, including:

  • Completely safe with no associated side effects
  • No usage of x-rays
  • Non-invasive, quick, and painless
  • An affordable imaging option for foot and ankle problems
  • Detects a variety of common foot and ankle issues and injuries

Don’t let foot pain rule your life. Call The Foot & Ankle Center at (314) 487-9300 to learn more about our diagnostic ultrasound and schedule your appointment with us right away.

Digital Radiography Treatment

Thanks to the advancements in modern technology, traditional x-rays are increasingly becoming more of a thing of the past. The podiatrists at The Foot & Ankle Center often use their in-office digital radiography treatment to help patients suffering from a variety of podiatric conditions.

What is Digital Radiography?

Our digital radiography helps our podiatrists properly diagnose many ailments of the foot and ankle. With this technology, we can see if any bones have been fractured or damaged by means of arthritis, infection, or other conditions. We can also ensure that young patients’ bones are growing normally and take action if we spot any fracturing.

What are the Benefits of Digital Radiography?

Digital radiography has many benefits over traditional x-rays, including the following:

  • Less radiation involved
  • Images can be viewed within minutes on a laptop or computer screen
  • Images can be magnified or adjusted for better viewing and more accurate diagnosis
  • Patients can achieve a greater understanding of the injury or condition

While many of our patients can benefit from our digital radiography treatment, we advise pregnant women, especially those in the first trimester, to avoid receiving this treatment. The present radiation may harm the unborn child.

To learn more about our digital radiography treatment or to schedule an appointment, please call The Foot & Ankle Center at (314) 487-9300.

Advanced Corrective Foot & Ankle Surgery

When conservative healing methods fail to correct your podiatric injury or condition, advanced corrective foot and ankle surgery may be the answer. The knowledgeable doctors at The Foot & Ankle Center are specialized in podiatric surgery and have decades of experience treating even the most challenging problems and have performed more than 50,000 surgeries.
Learn more

Foot and Ankle Conditions Our Surgeries Correct

With the latest technologies in the Greater St. Louis region, we can address and correct a wide range of foot and ankle conditions through corrective surgery, including:

  • Arthritis and joint disease
  • Benign and malignant tumors
  • Birth defects
  • Bunions
  • Calluses and warts
  • Corns
  • Flat feet
  • Heel or toe spurs
  • Neuromas (nerve tumors)
  • Sprains and fractures

Corrective Surgeries We Provide

We are proud to offer a variety of advanced foot and ankle surgeries to correct the problem and alleviate the pain you experience. Here are the types of surgeries we currently provide:

  • Achilles tendon surgery
  • Ankle surgery
  • Arthritis surgery
  • Arthroscopy
  • Bunion surgery
  • Cyst removal
  • Flat foot correction
  • Hammertoe surgery
  • Heel surgery
  • Metatarsal surgery
  • Nerve surgery (neuroma)
  • Toe surgery

What You Can Expect

When you opt for surgery, you can rest assured that you are in good hands. Our certified podiatrists have more than 30 years of experience in correcting even the most advanced foot and ankle conditions through corrective surgery. Several of these procedures can be performed in-office or at a surgical center on an outpatient bases. We often require that you remain off your feet after the procedure and use protective devices including bandages, splints, surgical shoes, casts, or open sandals. We will also ask you to keep your foot dry, iced, and elevated and limit weight bearing activities for the first two weeks after surgery to let your foot or ankle heal. To speed up your recovery, our doctors will encourage you to do post-operative exercises as well.

You may also need additional therapy or treatments after the procedure to help in your recovery. We may recommend physiotherapy or using orthotic devices or special footwear. Once you have healed, you may resume normal activities, and most of our patients can continue wearing their usual footwear.

Want to learn more? Call The Foot & Ankle Center at (314) 487-9300 to see how our advanced corrective foot and ankle surgery can benefit you!

Bunion Surgery

You know you have a bunion when your big toe joint points inward toward the other toes. This often results in a large, painful, bony lump on the side of your foot. Additionally, our patients who have bunions often suffer from chronic inflammation and irritation. Fortunately, bunion surgery (bunionectomy) can address and correct the problem, helping to straighten your toes and reduce your pain. The podiatrists at The Foot & Ankle Center have extensive experience in this type of surgery and can determine which bunionectomy is right for you.

What are the Types of Bunionectomy?

Bunion surgeries fall into two major categories:

Head Procedures
This bunionectomy treats the big toe joint. The doctor cuts the bone just behind the joint and moves it into the correct position. The bone is then fixed with a screw. This type of procedure is often beneficial for patients who can’t be off their feet for long periods of time to recover.

Base Procedures
This type of bunion surgery focuses on the bone near or behind the big toe joint. Several types of base procedures can be done, depending on how severe the bunion is. This may range from cutting a wedge out of the bone and splitting it to help it move into the right position, fusing the joint, or making a semi-circular cut and rotating the bone into the proper position. We may also treat the ligaments around the toe during a base procedure.

What to Expect from Bunion Surgery

Bunionectomies are often performed on an outpatient basis at a hospital or surgical center. You will want to set aside an entire day for the procedure and will need a ride to and from the hospital. We also advise that you ask someone to stay with you during the first 24 hours after your surgery to ensure the healing process is progressing correctly.

You will receive anesthesia when undergoing a bunionectomy, and we will provide you with long-acting pain medication after the procedure. During your recovery, you must remain off your feet and keep your foot elevated and iced to reduce swelling. You will need to keep your affected foot dry for up to two weeks or until we remove the sutures. After the sutures are taken out, you can bathe and shower normally but will still need to wear a dressing over the wound to prevent infection.

Bunions don’t need to rule your life. Call The Foot & Ankle Center at (314) 487-9300 to learn more about bunion surgery or to schedule an appointment with us today.