Secrets to Picking a Foot & Ankle Surgeon

Too often I hear after patient has been to an orthopedic surgeon, oh you do surgery too on the foot and ankle? The orthopedic surgeon says that He is the only surgeon in town that does foot and ankle surgery. Not only is this false but statistically incorrect. Podiatrists do the most foot and ankle surgery most areas of this country and do them very well. Particularly in Collier County, we are the most experienced foot and ankle surgeons. Podiatrists work in orthopedic groups as the main foot and ankle surgeon. Now you have the truth.

Podiatrists and Orthopedist both can do foot and ankle surgery.  How do you pick the best one for your needs?

Both Podiatrists and Orthopedists go through 4 years of graduate school didactic training.

Orthopedists that are fellowship trained in foot and ankle surgery has an extra 6 months to 1 year training in foot / ankle surgeries after their general orthopedic residency.

Podiatrists go through residency then most decided to go further to a foot and ankle fellowship for 1 year after that to gain further experience in the area they are most interested in such as: sports medicine, diabetic limb salvage, reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle.

• Don’t shop by initials: MD, DO, vs DPM.   If someone says I’m and MD you should trust me more than a DO, DPM, etc. that is a sign of all they have going for them.  Believe me, I have heard patients who have sought second opinions and returned with this self serving comment.
• Results and experience are what matters
  • Who does the most of these surgeries at the hospitals
  • You would be surprised that some doctors only do bunions and hammertoes but will dabble in ankle surgery
  • Some will do hip and other traumas then try to do foot / ankle surgery because it is a bone.
• Board Certification by the American Board of Foot / Ankle Surgery for Podiatrists
  • Did you know that there are two parts to the American Board of Foot / ankle surgery?
  • Majority of podiatrists are certified in only foot surgery
  • only about 900 + in the USA are Certified in Rearfoot / Ankle Surgery
• Board Certification by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery for Orthopedics