What To Expect During A Fasciotomy
If your Specialty Surgical Center physician is suggesting you receive a fasciotomy, chances are you suffer from plantar fasciitis; a condition that causes inflammation of the fascia on the bottom of the foot. Plantar fasciitis is a very common condition, affecting more than three million people in the U.S. each year. Symptoms of this ailment typically include the following:
- Sharp, stabbing heel pain
- Tenderness and swelling near the heel and sole of the foot
- Sharp pain that is often worse in the morning
- Change in gait due to pain symptoms
If you suffer from any of these symptoms, you should notify your SSC physician right away. Typically, the first line of treatment for patients who suffer from this condition includes over-the-counter pain medications, rest, ice, elevation, and physical therapy. As the condition worsens, patients may require steroid injections or surgery to correct the problem. If you are scheduled for a fasciotomy, here’s what you can expect during the procedure:
Your SSC physician will administer general or regional anesthesia before making an incision in the affected limb. Normally, two longitudinal incisions are made along the affected leg to expose the fascia that needs to be excised. Your physician will make the necessary cuts to the fascia using special surgical scissors to ensure pressure on nearby ligaments has been relieved.
A two-incision approach is currently the recommended technique because it’s safe and more effective than a one-incision approach. This surgical procedure may also be performed on the upper extremities to release pressure from damaged hand and wrist fascia. After the procedure, the physician will close the incisions and send the patient to a separate room to recover.
Once the patient’s vitals are normal and he or she has demonstrated no signs of an adverse reaction, the patient will be sent home to resume post-surgical recovery. As we alluded to previously, this procedure can be performed on the legs, feet, arms, and hands – anywhere there is a tight fascia muscle causing discomfort and pain.
For more information about this procedure, please call Specialty Surgical Center today to speak with a representative. We would be happy to schedule a consultation with one of our physicians.
Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.
For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.