LASER Foot and Ankle Surgery
 Laser
technology may seem like a mysterious and complicated science, but it's really not. Think about a
Laser as you would a sunbeam - did anyone ever show you the "magnifying glass experiment" when you
were younger? Lasers work in much the same way during surgery to treat your foot problem. Although
Laser is an exciting technology, there are some limits. Research is under way, but bone problems
like bunions and hammer toes cannot currently be treated with laser.
I have personally been performing Laser foot and ankle surgery
since 1984. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Laser surgery.
What is Laser?
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A Laser is a device that generates an intense beam of light -
light that's man-made and not known to occur in nature. The word Laser is an acronym which stands
for: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
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What does a surgical Laser do?
A surgical Laser beam can cut or vaporize tissue almost
instantaneously. It is so precise that the surrounding tissue is hardly affected. The beam
sterilizes and seals blood vessels as it cuts, so there's generally less bleeding, less
post-operative pain, and less chance of post operative infection than with conventional surgical
instruments.
Is Laser surgery a new technique?
Not at all. Lasers have been used for everything form removal
of tonsils to treatment of infertility. More recently, Lasers have been used to remove tattoos and
facial skin wrinkles and even to treat disc problems in the spine. Laser use in podiatry is now
quite common, although not every podiatrist owns a Laser.
Does it hurt?
Many patients have reported that Laser surgery is far less
painful than conventional techniques. Depending on the nature of your problem, your doctor will
probably numb the area with a local anesthetic before using the Laser.
Is Laser like an x-ray?
No. There is no ionizing radiation present in the Laser beam.
Some Common foot problems treatable with a LASER are:
- Fungal Nails: Infections of the toenails by a fungus simlar to the one that
causes athlete's foot.
- Warts: Benign skin growths caused by a virus. The Laser beam can be used to
vaporize warts, sometimes providing permanent relief when other methods have failed.
- Ingrown Toenails: Nails that grow into the flesh, causing pain and often
leading to infection. The Laser can be used to prevent the offending part of the nail from regrowing.
- Neuromas: A nerve growth causing burning, stinging, or sharp pain. The Laser
can be used to remove the "pinched" section of nerve.
- Porokeratosis: Slightly elevated, wart-like lesions that originate in the
sweat glands and are often painful.
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