Introduction to Percutaneous Surgery
Percutaneous surgery is a surgical technique that uses millimeter incisions to treat various foot deformities such as bunions and claw toes with minimal tissue trauma and early recovery. This approach, which has been widely advocated by experts such as Dr. JM San Román for more than 40 years.
What does the procedure consist of?
Percutaneous surgery is used in the treatment of common foot pathologies, such as bunions (
hallux valgus
) and claw or hammer toes. The technique uses incisions of between 2 and 5 millimeters to access the affected structure without the need for open surgery. The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia.
Unlike some open surgical methods, where it is possible for the deformity to recur, percutaneous surgery reduces this risk if performed accurately in patients who are candidates for this procedure.
Are screws or needles used?
Percutaneous surgery is distinguished by the fact that it does not use any osteosynthesis material such as screws, needles or surgical staples. Instead, anatomical portals are created to access the area and perform osteotomies (bone cuts) or tenotomies (partial tendon cuts) always guided by a fluoroscope, which allows visualization of the bone tissue in real time during the procedure and thus achieve the desired correction. Subsequently, the millimeter incisions may require a stitch and are fixed by a specialized functional dressing that allows the patient to ambulate without difficulty after surgery on both feet.
Benefits of Percutaneous Surgery
The main goal of percutaneous foot surgery is to optimize the patient experience on several fronts. First of all, this technique focuses on improving patient comfort during the postoperative period. Because the incisions are minimal, tissue trauma is significantly reduced, leading to a decrease in post-surgical pain and swelling.
This, in turn, allows for a faster and more efficient recovery, enabling the patient to resume daily activities in a shorter period of time. Furthermore, percutaneous foot surgery offers advantages in terms of surgical precision, which contributes to more predictable results and a reduction in the recurrence rate of the treated deformity.
After the procedure, patients are able to walk without assistance, using only specialized orthopedic footwear, which not only facilitates mobility but also minimizes the risk of post-surgical complications such as infection or thrombus. In short, percutaneous foot surgery is presented as a highly effective and safe alternative, marking a milestone in the surgical treatment of foot deformities.
If you have any foot deformities or pain such as bunions or claw toes, we recommend that you request a consultation with a foot surgery specialist. At Clínica San Román, we have more than 40 years of experience in the practice of percutaneous foot surgery. Our medical team, led by Dr. JM San Román, has been a pioneer in the introduction and development of these advanced surgical techniques in Europe since the early 1980s.
