KOCHI: Disorders and deformities of foot and ankle are among the most common health problems, which have a history of neglect and abuse by not seeking early medical attention, said Indian Foot and Ankle Society (IFAS) president Dr Rajiv Shah.
He was speaking after inaugurating the two-day advanced symposium on the problems of foot and ankle at the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Hall, Kochi, here on Saturday. The symposium was organised by the Indian Foot and Ankle Association, in association with the Kerala Orthopaedic Association and the Cochin Orthopaedic Society. Dr Shah, who himself is a pioneering foot and ankle surgeon in the country, said that with 26 bones and 33 joints, human foot/ankle was one of the most used body parts.
Therefore, everyone is likely to experience some degree of foot and ankle problems. While some of them are hereditary, most are accumulated and worsened by neglect. “A large number of patients with foot pain and deformities will benefit if there is a sustained campaign by the State’s health sector on the importance of consulting orthopaedic surgeons in time, for early detection and cure,” he said.
The highlights of the symposium are workshops on bunion osteotomy, calcaneal fractures and syndesmotic tightrope fixation. Dr Rajesh Simon, foot and ankle expert at Lakeshore Hospital and organising chairman, said that the IFAS was conducting osteotomy workshop for the first time in India. Bunion is a common deformity of the greater toe, characterised by a prominent bump on the outer edge of the toe where it joins the foot.
“Bunion osteotomy is a surgical procedure in which a bone in the foot is cut and remodelled so as to change its alignment and shape, thereby correcting it and improving the functioning of foot,” he said.
The conference, in four sessions, analysed the various problems affecting the hind foot, ankle, forefoot and mid-foot; and various other topics, including fractures, tears and disorders.
At the meet, the advancements in foot and ankle surgeries and the current trends in the treatment were also discussed.
Dr Michael Dujela, a noted podiatric surgeon from the U.S., and Dr Rajiv Shah led sessions on the approach and management of adult flatfoot. Dr Jeffrey McAlister (USA) spoke on the management of claw and hammer toe, while Dr Kiran Patel spoke on the issues related to ankle mal-union and chronic sprain of ankle. Dr Balvinder Rana, Dr Sundararajan, S R Abhishek Kini and Dr Rajesh Simon also addressed various sessions on first day.