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DiTROLIO PODIATRY
12-25 150th StreetWhitestone, NY 11357(718) 767-0202
For New Jersey location, please call (201) 664-0225 or click here
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Endoscopic Plantar Fasciotomy

WHY You MAY NEED EPF

EPF (endoscopic plantar fasciotomy) is one of the surgeries used to treat severe strain of the plantar fascia. If this ligament-like band that runs along the bottom of your foot is strained, you're likely to have pain on the inside of your foot, where the arch and heel meet. Walking and even standing may hurt. Your doctor may suggest EPF if medication and devices to control foot movement have not reduced your symptoms.

Your Physical Exam

During the exam, your doctor feels for damaged ligaments, inflamed tendons, and displaced bones. An x-ray may be taken to rule out a stress fracture of the heel bone. If surgery is likely, your doctor will want to know about any medications you take. Re or she also needs to know about any allergies or chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or heart disease.

YOUR SURGICAL EXPERIENCE

EPF is an outpatient procedure. It takes about an hour to perform, and may be done at a hospital or a same-day surgical facility. After the procedure, you'll be taken to a recovery area. You will be watched until you can sit up and drink liquids. Although you may feel fine when you are discharged, it is best to have someone drive you home.

Before Your Surgery

Follow your doctor's instructions on when to stop eating and drinking before surgery. If you take daily medication, ask if that should be stopped as well. Once at the facility, you'll be given consent forms to sign. Your temperature and blood pressure will be checked, and you may be trained in how to use crutches. It's normal to feel a little nervous before surgery. If you are very worried, you may be given a sedative to help you relax.

Preparing for the Procedure

Your foot will be scrubbed and draped, and you will be given anesthesia before the procedure. If IV (intravenous) sedation and a local anesthetic are used, you will be awake, but drowsy, during surgery.

During the Procedure

Your doctor makes an incision on each side of your heel. These incisions are less than one-half inch long. Next, a special scope and camera are slipped under the fascia. This allows your doctor to watch the procedure on a nearby monitor. Your doctor then cuts the fascia near the heel bone. If you are awake, you may hear people talking and feel pressure. You should not feel pain. Tell your doctor if you do.

Risks and Complications

As with any surgery, EPF has certain risks and complications. They include infection, slow healing, an ache on the outside of the foot, nerve entrapment, and a return of symptoms. If necessary, your doctor may change to a more traditional surgery that would require a larger incision.

AFTER YOUR SURGERY

You may be able to walk right after EPF~ but don't overdo it. Your doctor may want you to rest and recover at home for a few days. If a compression dressing is used to control swelling, you may need to wear a special surgical shoe. The dressing is likely to be removed at the first post-op visit.

Recovering at Home

Expect your foot to feel numb right after the surgery. Then, as the local anesthesia wears off, you'll probably feel some pain. To limit pain and swelling, ice the foot for 10-15 minutes times a day Also, raise the foot above heart level as often as you can. If you've been given pain medications, take them as directed.

Your First Post-Op Visit

Your doctor may want to see you the first week after surgery During this post-op visit, your incisions will be checked to make sure they are healing. The compression dressing may be replaced with a smaller surgical dressing. If this occurs, you can probably begin wearing tennis shoes.

FOR BEST RESULTS

As your foot heals, new tissue fills in the gap where the fascia was cut. This lengthens the fascia and reduces strain during foot movement. For best results, see your doctor as directed during the next few weeks or months. Physical therapy or stretching exercises are often prescribed to improve recovery. Wearing shoes with good support also helps.

Physical Therapy

Your doctor may order physical therapy to control swelling. Ultrasound, contrast baths, deep heat treatment, and electronic stimulation are all possible forms of therapy

Shoes with Good Support

Wearing the right shoes can reduce the amount of strain placed on the plantar fascia. Choose low or flat shoes that lace up. Shoes that also support the heel and arch are your best choice. Your doctor may also prescribe orthoses (custom-made shoe inserts) to help control your foot movement.

When to Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if you have any of the following:

1. Pain despite taking medications
2. More than a few drops of blood at an incision site
3. Signs of an infection, including fever, chills, and redness near an incision

Footnote

Patients usually heal more quickly after endoscopic plantarfasciotomy than after the more traditional open surgery.

Of course no two people are the same. We would be happy to discuss your unique foot condition. You can always reach us: 

1. Call and talk to a Doctor
2. Send your concerns and questions to us via E-mail
3. Visit and participate in our chat room
4. Arrange for a in-office consultation.

Patient Education

Patient Education Menu
  • Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD)
  • Accessory Navicular Syndrome
  • Common Disorders of the Achilles Tendon
  • Achilles Tendon Rupture
  • Diabetic Complications and Amputation Prevention
  • Ankle Arthritis
  • Ankle Fractures
  • Chronic Ankle Instability
  • Ankle Pain
  • Ankle Sprain
  • Arch Pain
  • Arch Supports
  • Athlete's Foot
  • Baseball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
  • Basketball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
  • Soft Tissue Biopsy
  • Black Toenails
  • Bone Healing
  • Bone Infection
  • Bone Tumors in the Foot
  • Brachymetararsia
  • Bunions (Hallux Abducto Valgus)
  • Bursitis
  • Calcaneal Apophysitis (Sever's Disease)
  • Fractures of the Calcaneus (Heel Bone Fractures)
  • Calf Pain
  • Callus
  • Capsulitis of the Second Toe
  • Cavus Foot (High-Arched Foot)
  • Charcot Foot
  • Clubfoot
  • Cold Feet
  • Compartment Syndrome
  • Contact Dermatitis
  • Corns
  • Cracked Heels
  • Crutch Use
  • Custom Orthotic Devices
  • Cyst-Ganglion
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
  • Dermatitis
  • Diabetic Complications and Amputation Prevention
  • Diabetic Foot Care Guidelines
  • Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Diabetic Shoes
  • Drop Foot
  • Dry Heels
  • DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
  • Eczema of the Foot
  • Equinus
  • Extra Bones
  • Fallen Arches
  • Field Hockey Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
  • Fifth Metatarsal Fracture
  • Flatfoot-Adult Acquired
  • Flatfoot-Flexible
  • Flatfoot-Pediatric
  • Flexible Flatfoot
  • Foot Arthritis
  • Foot Bumps
  • Foot Drop
  • Foot Fracture
  • Foot Lumps
  • Foot Odor
  • Foot Rash
  • Football Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
  • Fracture-Ankle
  • Fracture-Foot
  • Fractures of the Calcaneus (Heel Bone Fractures)
  • Fractures of the Fifth Metatarsal
  • Fracture-Toe
  • Frostbite
  • Fungal Nails
  • Ganglion Cyst
  • Gangrene
  • Golf Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
  • Gout
  • Haglund's Deformity
  • Hallux Rigidus
  • Hammertoes
  • Heel Bone Fractures
  • Heel Cracks
  • Heel Fissures
  • Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)
  • High-Arched Foot
  • Inflammation: Actue
  • Ingrown Toenails
  • Instructions for Using Crutches
  • Intermetatarsal Neuroma
  • Intoeing
  • Joint Pain in the Foot
  • Joint Swelling in the Foot
  • Jones Fracture
  • Lacrosse Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
  • Lisfranc Injuries
  • Lumps
  • Malignant Melanoma of the Foot
  • MRSA Infection of the Foot
  • Orthotics
  • Os Trigonum Syndrome
  • Osteoporosis
  • Osteoarthritis of the Foot and Ankle
  • Osteomyelitis (Bone Infection)
  • Osteopenia
  • P.A.D. (Peripheral Arterial Disease)
  • Pediatric Flatfoot
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.)
  • Peripheral Neuropathy: Diabetic
  • Peroneal Tendon Injuries
  • Pigeon-toes
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Plantar Fibroma
  • Plantar Wart (Verruca Plantaris)
  • Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD)
  • Pump Bump (Hallux Rigidus)
  • Puncture Wounds
  • Rash
  • Raynauds Phenomenon
  • Restless Legs
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Foot and Ankle
  • R.I.C.E Protocol
  • Rugby Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
  • Running and Track Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
  • Running Injuries
  • Sesamoid Injuries in the Foot
  • Shin Splints
  • Shoe Inserts
  • Skin Cancer of the Foot and Ankle
  • Smelly Feet
  • Soccer Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
  • Soft Tissue Biopsy
  • Softball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
  • Sports Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
  • Staph Infections of the Foot
  • Stress Fracture in the Foot
  • Sweaty Feet
  • Swollen Ankles
  • Swollen Feet
  • Synovitis
  • Tailor's Bunion
  • Talar Dome Lesion
  • Tarsal Coalition
  • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Tennis Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
  • Thick Toenails
  • Tingly Feet
  • Tired Feet
  • Toe and Metatarsal Fractures (Broken Toes)
  • Toe Walking
  • Turf Toe
  • Ulcers/Wounds
  • Varicose Veins
  • Volleyball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
  • Warts
  • Weak Ankles
  • Webbed Toes
  • White Toenails
  • Wounds/Ulcers
  • Wounds-Puncture
  • Yellow Toenails
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Whitestone, NY 11357
(718) 767-0202

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