Foot pain and foot injury
As one of the country’s top ranked orthopaedic centers, Duke specialists in Raleigh and Durham provide advanced treatment options for every source of foot pain and injury. We also test promising emerging foot therapies and implants to get you back to your active life.
Leaders in foot injury treatment
An active life requires feet that work well and are free of pain. Our team of foot specialists provide treatment options for a full roster of foot-related pain and foot injuries that can side-line you from your favorite activity. The common conditions we treat include: bunions, claw toes, diabetic foot, foot fractures, foot arthritis, hammer toe, heel pain, heel spurs, ligament and tendon injury, plantar fasciitis, rheumatoid foot disorders, and sports-related foot injuries.
People choose Duke for their foot care because we offer:
- Less pain, greater function. Our orthopaedic surgeons use bone and tissue grafts to repair damage to the foot. These new techniques may result in less pain and better function. Duke is an early adopter of hammer toe implants and other novel devices for the treatment of foot and toe disorders.
- 24-hour access. If you need orthopedic care fast due to pain or injury we offer 24-hour access to appointments. In many cases, a orthopaedic provider may see you the same day you call for an appointment. Learn more about obtaining an appointment within the next 24 hours.
- Orthopaedic urgent care. If you need immediate care for an injury, Duke Orthopaedics Urgent Care offers orthopaedic-specific care at two convenient locations seven days a week. You will experience the convenience of fast service with no long waits and no unnecessary exposure to sick people.
- Skilled experts on your team. Our orthopaedic and plastic surgeons combine their skills and expertise to perform complex procedures. Our orthopaedic program is consistently ranked as one of the top in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
- Dedicated physical therapy. Our physical therapists focus exclusively on foot and ankle injuries and rehabilitation, and work in tandem with your doctor to devise a personalized rehabilitation plan that includes sport-specific therapy.
- PATIENT STORY
3-D printed bone implant saves woman’s leg“I can have a normal life. Considering the alternative, I’ll take that any day.”
FOOT PAIN AND INJURY
Treatments
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Before surgery is considered, our team will recommend nonsurgical treatment options including custom orthotics, bracing, steroid injections and physical therapy.
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Our doctors use this emerging technique to extract plasma from your blood and inject it into injured tissue to promote healing. Research suggests that this treatment may shorten healing and/or avoid the need for surgery.
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Relieves this common source of pain by removing the bony enlargement around the joint at the base of your big toe and realigning the toes.
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Surgery to repair torn ligaments or transfer other ligaments and tendons in your foot and ankle to repair damage from an injury.
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We specialize in this minimally invasive surgical technique, in which a tiny camera and surgical instruments are passed through small incisions to repair torn ligaments or tendons, or remove loose bone or deteriorated cartilage due to arthritis. The benefits to you: a speedier recovery and less blood loss.
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Our doctors were among the first to offer new patient-friendly implants that straighten bent, painful toes. This new implant is more effective and comfortable than the traditional treatment options which require long pins that extrude externally from the toe.
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We helped develop novel techniques using transplanted or donor tissue to repair cracks in the foot bones and ankle joint that result from trauma or injury.
FOOT PAIN AND INJURY
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.
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In addition to X-rays, our doctors may use fluoroscopy, during which a continuous X-ray beam is passed through the ankle and transmitted to a monitor, to see the foot in motion.
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X-rays the foot and ankle in positions that put stress on the joint, which gives doctors more information about the source of your pain or injury in order to pinpoint your diagnosis.
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May be used to help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis or indicate the presence of inflammation or infection.
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Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create pictures of blood vessels in order to rule out blockages. Your doctor may recommend an MRI to rule out underlying conditions such as damage to soft tissues like tendons and ligaments. CT scans may be used to get a more complete look at the soft tissue injuries affecting the ligaments, cartilage and tendons in your foot and ankle.