What is the Role of Podiatric Surgery in the Elderly Patient?
– Peri operative consideration in the older patient
Within the next decade, Australia will have over 5 million residents aged over 65 years. Foot pain, foot deformities and arthritis are more common late in life and prediction are that within the next decade over 1.3 million older Australians will be living with foot pain. Foot and ankle problems in particular Hallux valgus and hammer toes associated with decreased plantar tactile strength increase the risk of falls in older people. While research has shown multifaceted podiatry interventions can produce significant reductions in falls rate, to date there has been no studies to look at the potential role of foot surgery in falls prevention.
Hallux valgus and hammer toes are a progressive deformity which are often do not cause significant functional problems until later in life which raises the question should we be considering surgical correction of these deformities at a younger age?
Conservative therapies are a priority when addressing the geriatric population, but surgical options may be overlooked secondary to a misunderstanding of their ability to overcome perioperative management so there is a tendency to shy away from presenting surgical options, the common belief being “too old,” “too risky,” “won’t heal” and “just live with it.”
The need for foot surgery increases with age so perioperative assessment and screening of patients is an important component of assessing suitability and surgical management of the elderly patient.
Not all foot surgery needs to be complex, risky or have a long convalescence. There is a range of simple surgical procedures, commonly overlooked that can be performed safely under local anesthesia on a day surgery basis that can provide a significant reduction in foot pain and improvement in quality of life.
Presented by:
It was Dane’s passion for making exceptional, affordable and quality podiatry care available locally within the Wollondilly community that was the driving force behind Cartwright Podiatry.
With over eight years of experience helping his patients stay active and happy on their feet, Dane has completed multiple comprehensive post- graduate training programs, including Dry Needling, Foot Mobilisation and Prolotherapy.
Dane has a keen interest in helping his patients recover from pain and injury related to sports and lower limb biomechanics. After becoming certified by the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons to assist with reconstructive surgeries, Dane is now completing a further three years of study in the theory of podiatric surgery.