My eyes, my eyes...make the nasty man take it away

Due to a severe lack of suggestions about what I should write next I've decided the time has come to share some more pictures of the horror perpetrated on my ankle. Now firstly let me tell you what they've done. Strictly speaking I don't have to do this but it made me feel distinctly queasy so I think it would be rude of me not to share.

Just to give you an idea this is my foot before the latest operation:)


The first procedure was a

Posterior Tibial Tendon Transfer to the Dorsal Foot

In this procedure, the surgeon releases the posterior tibial tendon from its insertion into the navicular. The incision is made on the inside (medial) aspect of the foot, and the tendon is released.

A second incision, which is about an inch long, is made on the inside of the lower leg, just above the bony lump (medial malleolus) on the inside of the ankle. To identify this spot for yourself, find the bony prominence on the inside of the ankle then go back about an inch and a half, and then up about three inches. This is where the cut tendon of the posterior tibialis is pulled out and then passed behind the tibia, right along the bone.

The third incision is made in front of the lower leg, three or four inches above the ankle. The rest of the procedure involves pulling the tendon out through the front of the lower leg, in between the tibia and fibula and through a hole in the strong tissue that holds these two bones together (the interosseous membrane). From there the surgeon has a number of options, depending on the deformity and whether the transferred tendon needs to pull straight up, up and to the inside, or up and to the outside.

Incision on side of foot: 
and on the inside of the ankle. Why the holy fuck does this look like it was sewn together by someone more used to barbecuing pigs!
and on the front

They then did a 

Peroneus Longus to Brevis Transfer

If by now you haven't lost your breakfast then you may interested in clicking on the link above which will tell you what they did. I'm guessing they used some of the same incisions.

Then by way of light relief they did a mid foot osteotomy you can see the screws from the last one in the x-ray. I can't find the incision in this lot, mind you I did get the plaster technician to take the photos and I reckon he did a fairly good job under the circumstances

They then did a 

Jones Procedure with IPJ Fusion of Great Toe

This involves moving a tendon and then fusing the joint with a screw or wire. and finally

This involved splitting the tendons to my, frankly, beautiful toes to let them relax a bit and then moving the tendon somehow. I'm a bit hazy on this one and not really sure it's going to do any good.

I hope that this instructive and educational article has made you feel very happy about your own pristine and unsquished feet...unless of course your feet aren't pristine and unsquished, in which case you have my deepest sympathies.

As the anaethetist said to me - 'See you on the other side' :)


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