Welcome to the Seattle Foot and Ankle Center, where we provide specialty foot and ankle medical and surgical care. In this blog you will find educational articles, get updates on what is happening in the practice, as well as articles and commentaries on health in general. Visit often, as information is updated.
Dark lines on the toenails are often seen in the office and asked about by patients. Although most presentations of melanin deposition in nail plate tissue represent a benign melanocytic process in the nail matrix, a small percentage may represent melanoma, a potentially fatal cancer. Pigmentary changes in nail appearance may occur from trauma, inflammatory … Read more Dark Lines on Toenails
There is debate whether surgery or conservative methods are indicated for Achilles tendon ruptures. Reasons to consider surgery include: Most current treatment algorithms agree on surgical repair for non-obese healthy active individuals younger than 30 to 35 years of age with a rupture gap greater than two centimeters. New mini-open and percutaneous techniques with lower … Read more Achilles Tendon Ruptures
Custom orthotics are like eyeglasses for the feet. With the exception of trauma and systemic disease, abnormal angulation in gait is likely the cause of the patient’s presenting symptoms. Movement patterns and mechanics of the foot, ankle, leg, core need to be considered in order to effectively manage these concerns to provide effective treatment that … Read more Prescribing Custom Orthotics
Are you having difficulty caring for a loved one and looking for assistance in placement? As a podiatrist who has worked in various different types of senior living facilities for 15 years, I wish to describe the choices solely from an outside medical provider perspective. I will begin with the highest level of health care … Read more Senior Living Facility Options
Enjoy two videos below on these very important health topics that can affect the feet: diabetes and high blood pressure. Diabetes from Chicago Health SMB Brands on Vimeo. High Blood Pressure from Chicago Health SMB Brands on Vimeo.
Women’s Feet from Chicago Health SMB Brands on Vimeo. Oftentimes, our precious patients will present with painful foot conditions due to shoes they have to wear for work. We work with our patients to come up with the best solutions available to minimize foot pain and accommodate for life’s necessities. If you choose to wear high … Read more Women’s Feet Health
Fall Prevention for Seniors from Chicago Health SMB Brands on Vimeo. Footcare and diagnosis and treatment of painful foot conditions by a podiatrist is very important in the elderly population to prevent falls that may be due to painful feet. Elderly Americans are very susceptible to falls as they get older. Everyone experiences decreases in … Read more Senior Falls Prevention
Heel Fissures from Chicago Health SMB Brands on Vimeo. Evaluation for cracked heels needs to include an assessment of the depth of any fissures and whether they are infected and need antibiotic treatment. There may also be thick skin and callusing around the crack that needs to be trimmed down. Once this problem is fixed, … Read more Cracked Heels
Frostbite from Chicago Health SMB Brands on Vimeo. Extreme cold temperatures may cause permanent damage to the structures of the foot and ankle, including blood vessels, nerves and skin. It is important to get the condition treated right away, and ongoing treatment may be necessary to ensure the best function of the foot. Frostbite occurs … Read more Frostbite
Blisters from Chicago Health SMB Brands on Vimeo. Blisters are caused by increased friction on the skin of the feet due to activity. Well-fitting shoes and even double socks may be needed to treat the condition. If blisters are deep, the underlying skin could be ulcerated or cause an infection. These conditions need to be … Read more Blisters