Foot Pain and Injury
For More InformationAn active lifestyle requires feet that work well and are free of pain. Our foot and ankle specialists treat foot-related pain and foot injuries that can sideline you from your favorite activities. Common conditions we treat include:
• Bunions and bunionettes
• Claw toes and hammer toes
• Diabetic foot issues
• Flatfoot
• Foot sprains and fractures and sports-related foot injuries
• Foot arthritis and rheumatoid foot disorders
• Heel pain, heel spurs, and plantar fasciitis
• Ligament and tendon injuries
• Neuromas and nerve pain
If You Need Immediate Treatment
Visit Duke Orthopaedic Urgent Care
Our convenient orthopaedic urgent care locations throughout the Triangle are open seven days a week. Get fast service with no long waits and no unnecessary exposure to illness. No appointment needed; walk-ins are welcome.
Duke Health offers orthopaedic clinics throughout the Triangle. Find one near you. In-person and virtual appointments are available.
You can get a second opinion from a Duke foot and ankle specialist without leaving your living room. Make an appointment for an online video visit today.
Foot and Ankle Arthroscopy
Our surgeons specialize in this minimally invasive surgical technique, in which a tiny camera and surgical instruments are passed through small incisions to repair torn ligaments and tendons or remove loose bone or arthritis-damaged cartilage. Minimally invasive surgery helps you recover faster with less blood loss.
Heel Pain and Plantar Fasciitis
Heel pain is a common issue that can be debilitating. Common causes include Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, flatfoot, arthritis, or tendonitis. These conditions can often be treated without surgery, but it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis to help guide your treatment plan.
Bone and Tissue Grafts
Bone and tissue grafts can repair fractures that failed to heal, correct foot deformity, and replace worn out or torn ligaments and tendons. Our foot and ankle surgeons are involved in research on bone and tissues grafts and helped develop novel techniques to make them safer and more successful.
Tests
Because the exact source of foot pain is not always obvious, our doctors may use a variety of tests to diagnose your foot condition.
X-Rays
We often use weightbearing X-rays to assess your foot issue. This type of X-ray can help diagnose many foot and ankle issues that may not be seen with traditional X-rays.
Fluoroscopy
Fluoroscopy provides real-time X-ray imaging of the foot in motion. It can be used to diagnose joint instability and help guide injections in an affected joint.
Blood Tests
Blood tests diagnose certain health problems that affect the feet. These include autoimmune disorders, arthritis, infection, healing problems, and electrolyte imbalances.
Ultrasound, MRI, CT
Other non-invasive imaging tests may be needed to help diagnosis your foot issue and create a treatment plan.
- Ultrasound uses sound waves to create pictures of the structures inside your body. It may be used to visualize blood vessels to rule out blockages or to evaluate tendon or ligament injuries.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a powerful magnet and and radio waves to create a 3D image of your soft tissues including cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.
- Computed tomography (CT) uses radiation to create 3D images of denser tissues such as bone. Our weightbearing CT scanner can also assess your alignment and overall foot and ankle structure.
Leaders in Foot Injury Diagnosis and Treatment
A Team of Foot and Ankle Specialists
Our foot and ankle specialists are experienced in diagnosing and treating the full range of foot pain and injury, from bunions to fractures. They are board-certified and fellowship-trained in foot and ankle surgery and perform hundreds of foot and ankle procedures each year.
Minimally Invasive Techniques
If your foot pain or injury requires surgery, we are experts in minimally invasive surgical techniques. The small incisions translate to faster recovery and a quicker return to your daily activities.
Dedicated Physical Therapy
Our physical therapists focus exclusively on foot and ankle injuries and rehabilitation. They work in tandem with your doctor to devise a personalized rehabilitation plan that includes sport-specific therapy.
Where you receive your care matters. Duke University Hospital is proud of our team and the exceptional care they provide. They are why our orthopaedics program is nationally ranked, and the highest ranked program in North Carolina, according to U.S. News & World Report for 2020–2021.