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How do you check out your doctor?
SURGICAL BOARD CERTIFICATION: (ABPS = American Board of Podiatric Surgery) This is the gold standard of the surgical testing boards. For years, we have considered this a basic qualification. But not everyone agrees. Maybe this is because the pass rate for the ABPS exam is only 40%. There are many substitute (read "easier") boards around for physicians to take. So, be specific when you inquire. The ABPS is also split into two parts: 1. Forefoot Surgery, and 2. Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery. We are boarded in both.
Also, check with your local hospitals to see if your surgeon is on staff there. Hospitals have more stringent requirements than required by Virginia for office-only based physicians. You might ask the recommendation from the O.R. or Recovery Room nurses at your local hospital. They see everyone's work!
LASER BOARD CERTIFICATION: (ASLMS = American Board of Laser Medicine and Surgery) This board exam is for physicians and laser researchers. A doctor has to know everything about lasers to take and pass this board. Taking the part which is also given to research scientists also makes it a little tougher. This exam tests a wide scope of laser knowledge. If your doctor uses laser, ask him about this. Few have it. Physicians have to go out of their way to take this.
QUALITY ASSURANCE BOARD CERTIFICATION: (ABQUARP = American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians) Quite a mouthful. A national organization for health professionals involved in Q.A. work. This means that they work to set the "standard of care" in delivering medicine or surgery for other doctors, insurance companies, state regulations, and hospitals.
There are only 3 Podiatrists in the U.S. holding all 3 board certifications.
How do we do this with laser?
We ALWAYS do!
Click for the laser section!
We all know what hammertoes are. The etiology of HT's is so complicated it could fill a book, so we'll postpone that for now. Suffice it to say Ht's are a result of a myriad of biomechanically destabilizing factors. Of course, you could always have one arise from that late night last-minute snack....you know, when you kicked the chair? How about your husband's toolbox? Ouch!
Not all HT's need surgery. They may be conservatively treated. Anyway, many surgeons make the common (we see it all too often) of taking the joints of HT's completely out. We feel, that once you take it out, it is hard to put it back in. So, while that might be necessary, we like precision oriented surgical methods which are not as traumatic. Therefore it is less debilitating. You also don't end up with a "floppy toe".
Of course we use the laser for our hammertoe procedures. We are a laser-based practice. The laser is used for the soft tissue component of the surgery. The soft tissue contains nerves which hurt, and vessels which cause swelling. Sealing these off minimizes postoperative nerve stimulation and vessel leakage. The bone work is done conventionally, using precision nitrogen-driven power equipment. We make no bones about what the laser can do, and what are its limits. Now think about it, would you believe the laser to cut bone to be an advantage? By the way....have you ever heard of a bone swelling?
"Take care of your soft tissue, and it will take care of you back."
Schematic showing a common mild 2nd digital hammertoe.
Schematic showing a typical postoperative result to the 2nd digit
However, the 3rd (center) digit suffers from a "mallet toe"
these are easily solved with a precision "Flip-Up" technique.
This schematic shows how unstable a hammertoe can become.
Obviously, this locked-up digit needs help.
For this, we would select a precision osteotomy procedure through a small incision.
SURGICAL SECTION - What we Fix.
SURGICAL SECTION - Bunionectomy
SURGICAL SECTION - Tailor's Bunionectomy
SURGICAL SECTION - Neuromas
SURGICAL SECTION - Hammertoes
SURGICAL SECTION - Warts and Plantar Lesions
SURGICAL SECTION - Heel Spurs
SURGICAL SECTION - Life in the Office!
BACK UP to RF&A Homepage
Go to BUNIONECTOMY
Go to TAILOR'S BUNIONECTOMY
Go to NEUROMAS
Go to HAMMERTOES
Go to WARTS
Go to HEEL SPURS / PLANTAR FASCIITIS
Go to THE OFFICE - Candid photos !!
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