Are you struggling with arthritis of the joint at the base of the big toe? It is the most common arthritic condition of the foot, affecting 1 in 40 people over the age of 50 and typically developing in those over age 30. Big toe arthritis tends to affect women more than men.

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body. It connects the upper calf muscles to the back of the heel bone. Achilles tendinitis is an injury to this tendon that causes pain in the back of the leg. Typically this injury results from inflammation of the surrounding sheath…

Osteochondral lesions are injuries to the talus (the bottom bone of the ankle joint) that involve both the bone and the overlying cartilage. These injuries may also be called osteochondritis dessicans or osteochondral fractures. The injuries may include…

Adult acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD) is a progressive flattening of the arch of the foot. This flattening occurs as the posterior tibial tendon (a tendon in your lower leg) wears down. AAFD is also called posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, posterior tibial tendon insufficiency, and dorsolateral peritalar subluxation.

The goal of an ankle fusion (also known as ankle arthrodesis) is to relieve pain and maintain or improve function for patients with ankle arthritis. Ankle arthritis occurs when there is a break down of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones that form the ankle joint.

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) treats foot and ankle conditions with very small incisions. In these procedures, Dr Reichard uses special instruments to cut bones under X-ray guidance and inserts screws through very small incisions. Advantages of minimally invasive surgery over traditional surgery include faster healing, smaller scars, and less stiffness.

The Achilles tendon is a large tendon at the back of the lower leg and ankle that connects the calf muscles to the heel. It is the largest tendon in the body, and its strength allows us to push off with forces up to 10 times our body weight. If you think you’ve torn your Achilles tendon please call our office immediately at (406) 586-8029.

An ankle sprain refers to tearing of the ligaments of the ankle. The most common ankle sprain occurs on the lateral (outside) part of the ankle. Some 25,000 people sprain their ankle every day!

Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeons are the only foot care specialists who are trained as physicians (MDs and DOs). That means they’ve completed medical school, passed national boards for certification, and can address foot and ankle problems as part of your whole body health.

A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone, they are also commonly referred to as BSIs or Bone Stress Injuries. These fractures most often result from overuse and can occur with an increase in activity. Stress fractures most commonly occur in the weight­bearing bones of the legs

The midfoot (middle of the foot) is critical to the overall function of the foot and ankle. It serves many different functions, including transferring weight from the heel to the forefoot (front of the foot) when you walk. The midfoot is composed of multiple small bones that are…