High Heels on Sidewalk 2

Foot & Ankle

The Montefiore Approach

The Division of Foot and Ankle Surgery at Montefiore brings together a tremendous breadth of experience and expertise for the diagnosis and management of a wide range of foot and ankle conditions.

As an academic medical center, we are committed to the treatment and study of foot and ankle conditions. We are constantly striving to develop novel and cutting-edge techniques for the advancement of care within our own health system and beyond.

The experience of our patients and their loved ones—not simply their ailments—demands our full attention. Your dedicated care team will be there to discuss your condition, answer questions, assess treatment options, and develop a treatment strategy that is best for you.

Though widely common, disorders of the foot and ankle represent some of the most disruptive musculoskeletal complaints. At Montefiore, we believe that optimal outcomes are achieved through accurate diagnosis, appropriate and timely treatment, and intelligent patient-specific management.

Using a collaborative multidisciplinary approach, we bring together podiatric surgeons, vascular surgeons, and plastic surgeons with experts from non-operative specialties, including physical medicine and rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapy, rheumatology, musculoskeletal radiology, and pain management to provide comprehensive and well-considered care.

Our board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons are actively invested in the training of medical students and orthopaedic surgery residents.

Our status as an academic medical center puts us at the forefront of our field. Together with our Albert Einstein College of Medicine, one of the highest NIH-funded institutions in the country, we are continually conducting research with the goal of discovering better treatment options for our patients. We routinely present our research findings and publish our study results in peer-reviewed publications.

Conditions We Treat

Montefiore treats a vast spectrum of conditions, a selection of which you will find listed below. In addition to these, we have experience treating many other conditions. Please contact us today to schedule a consultation so that we can review and discuss your specific healthcare needs.

Some Common Conditions
  • Foot and ankle fractures
  • Arthritis of the ankle and midfoot
  • Conditions requiring total ankle replacement
  • Conditions requiring arthrodesis
  • Ankle injuries
  • Chronic ankle pain/instability
  • Achilles tendon disorders, rupture, and tendinitis
  • Heel pain/plantar fasciitis
  • Flatfoot
  • Spring ligament injury
  • Tarsal coalition
  • Tendon dysfunctions and injuries
  • High-arched foot
  • Diabetic foot conditions
  • Bunions
  • Arthritis of the big toe joint
  • Sesamoiditis
  • Neuroma
  • Claw, hammer, and mallet toes
  • Avascular necrosis
  • Lapidus Arthrodesis
  • Dislocated Toe Joints
You may break (fracture) one of your toes by stubbing it, dropping something on it, or bending it. A hairline crack (stress fracture) may occur after a sudden increase in activity, such as increased running or walking. Symptoms of a broken toe may include: Read More
The heel and ankle joints are common sites of tendon injuries. For more information about tendon injuries in these areas, see the topic Achilles Tendon Problems as well.  This topic does not address severe tendon tears or ruptures. To help you assess a tendon injury, please see the topic Toe, Foot, and Ankle Injuries. Read More
Everyone has had a minor problem with a toe, foot, or ankle. Most of the time our body movements do not cause problems, but it's not surprising that symptoms develop from everyday wear and tear or overuse. Toe, foot, or ankle problems can also occur from injuries or the natural process of aging.Your toes, feet, or ankles may burn, sting, hurt, feel tired, sore, stiff, numb, tingly, hot, or cold. You may have had a "charley horse" (muscle cramp) in your foot while lying in bed at night. Your feet or ankles may change color or swell. You may have noticed an embarrassing odor from your feet. Some changes in your feet and ankles are normal as a person ages or during pregnancy. Home treatment is usually all that is needed to relieve your symptoms, but if you have ongoing problems or concerns, we are glad to evaluate you and recommend treatment. Read More
Avascular necrosis is bone death that occurs when the blood supply to the bones is decreased or stopped. Without an adequate blood supply, the bone breaks down and dies and collapses. If the bone affected is near a joint, the joint may also collapse. Although any bone can be affected, avascular necrosis most often affects ends of the long bones, such as the upper leg bone at the hip. Avascular necrosis is also called osteonecrosis, aseptic necrosis, or ischemic bone necrosis. Read More
Hammer, claw, and mallet toes are toes that are bent into an odd position. They may look strange or may hurt, or both. These toe problems almost always happen in the four smaller toes, not the big toe. If you notice that your toe looks odd or hurts, talk to your doctor. You may be able to fix your toe with home treatment. If you don't treat the problem right away, you are more likely to need surgery. Read More
Morton's neuroma is a swollen or thickened nerve in the ball of your foot. When your toes are squeezed together too often and for too long, the nerve that runs between your toes can swell and get thicker. This swelling can make it painful when you walk on that foot. High-heeled, tight, or narrow shoes can make pain worse. Sometimes, changing to shoes that give your toes more room can help. Read More
A bunion is an enlargement of bone or tissue around the joint at the base of the big toe. The big toe may turn toward the second toe. The tissues around the joint may be swollen and tender. A bony bump at the base of the little toe is called a bunionette or tailor's bunion. The little toe also bends inward, and the joint swells or enlarges. Read More
Foot problems in people with diabetes are usually treated by keeping blood sugar levels in a target blood sugar range and by using medicine, surgery, and other types of treatment.When foot problems develop, those problems need prompt treatment so that serious complications don't develop. Even problems that seem minor—like calluses, blisters, cracked or peeling skin, and athlete's foot—need to be checked by a doctor. These problems frequently occur as a result of reduced sensitivity in the feet and may precede more serious infections or foot ulcers if the cause (poorly fitted shoes, excessive weight-bearing, or dry skin) isn't identified and corrected. Read More
The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. It lets you rise up on your toes and push off when you walk or run.The two main problems are: Read More
At one time or another, everyone has had a minor toe, foot, or ankle injury that caused pain or swelling. Most of the time our body movements do not cause problems, but it's not surprising that symptoms develop from everyday wear and tear, overuse, or an injury.Toe, foot, or ankle injuries most commonly occur during: Read More
Most people have twisted an ankle at some point in their life. But if your ankle gets swollen and painful after you twist it, you have most likely sprained it. This means you have stretched and possibly torn the ligaments in your ankle.Even though ankle sprains are common, they are not always minor injuries. Some people with repeated or severe sprains can develop long-term joint pain and weakness. Treating a sprained ankle can help prevent ongoing ankle problems. Read More
Osteoarthritis is a painful problem with the joints. Healthy joints help your body move, bend, and twist. Knees glide up and down stairs without creaking or crunching. Hips move you along on a walk without a complaint. But when you have arthritis, such simple, everyday movements can hurt. Using the stairs can be painful. Walking a few steps, opening a door, and even combing your hair can be hard. Arthritis is mainly a disease of the spine, hip, hand, knee, and foot. But it can happen in other joints too. A joint is where two bones connect. And you have them all over your body. Read More
Flatfoot (pes planus) is a condition in which the longitudinal arch in the foot, which runs lengthwise along the sole of the foot, has not developed normally and is lowered or flattened out. One foot or both feet may be affected. Children as well as adults may be flat-footed. Most children are flat-footed until they are between the ages of 3 and 5 when their longitudinal arch develops normally. Read More
Plantar fasciitis (say "PLAN-ter fash-ee-EYE-tus") is the most common cause of heel pain. The plantar fascia is the flat band of tissue (ligament) that connects your heel bone to your toes. It supports the arch of your foot. If you strain your plantar fascia, it gets weak, swollen, and irritated (inflamed). Then your heel or the bottom of your foot hurts when you stand or walk.Plantar fasciitis is common in middle-aged people. It also occurs in younger people who are on their feet a lot, like athletes or soldiers. It can happen in one foot or both feet. Read More

Our Treatments

The majority of conditions affecting the foot and ankle can be treated with non-surgical intervention like bracing, casting, injections, orthotics, or physical therapy. In some instances, however, surgery represents the most effective solution. Our team offers patients a wide spectrum of techniques designed to decrease pain, improve function, minimize surgical discomfort, and shorten recovery time. For those seeking further information, we have included a few examples of common procedures that we perform at Montefiore.

Highlighted Treatments

We run on the support of people like you

There are many ways to help

Donate Now
  • New Patient Appointments

    Seeing us is easy. Simply fill out our online form, and we’ll contact you within 24 hours to schedule an appointment within the next seven days.

    Request an appointment
  • Physician Referrals

    Montefiore embraces a collaborative approach. If you have a patient who could benefit from our services, please reach out.

    Refer a patient
  • Contact Us

    Have any general questions or concerns? Contact us by phone or email.