Foot Specialist

Dr. med Thomas Schneider, Orthopaedic Specialist, Foot and Ankle, Hip Surgery

• Orthopaedic Specialist at the Gelenk Klinik Orthopaedic Hospital
• PhD (1997) University of Freiburg
• Orthopaedic Specialist since 2004
• Expert Consultant for Arthroscopic Ankle and Foot Surgery, Ankle Replacement Surgery, Ligament Reconstruction, Total Hip Replacement (McMinn), Cartilage Replacement, Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery
• Languages: English and German

Dr. Martin Rinio, MD, Orthopedist, Surgeon and Trauma Surgeon

Qualification

• Orthopaedics, surgery and trauma surgery
• Akademie der Unfallchirurgie AUC

Teaching

• Eberhard Karls Universität Tuebingen
• Akademie der Unfallchirurgie AUC

Dr. Martin Rinio has special surgery experience in hip, knee and shoulder prostheses. Working well with general practitioners is particularly important to him in ensuring patients receive comprehensive care.

Foot specialist approach to orthopaedic disorders of the foot ©Fotolia.com

The human upright gait takes its toll on the body. It creates considerable stress for our locomotor system (the ability to move using the muscular and skeletal systems) and especially for our feet.

The feet carry the whole of our body weight and walk an average of 5,000 steps a day. Our modern lifestyle and leisure activities for example sports, and the wearing of high-heeled and uncomfortable footwear, make us more prone to pain in the feet.

Fig. 1: The hallux valgus (lat. for skewed toe) is a deformity in the big toe at the metatarsophalangeal joint: It is characteristic for the big toe to point outwards. Due to increasing conflict with the shoe, friction causes an inflammation of the bursa in the metatarsophalangeal joint, often followed by additional swelling. © Gelenk-Klinik.de

What is Hallux valgus? Hallux valgusis the most common deformity of the forefoot and the toes. 23% of 18-65 year olds and over 35% of those over 65 years have hallux valgus. Due to the noticeable form it’s also referred to as a bunion or ganglion.

Here the big toe moves out of its alignment and points toward the outside edge of the foot. With hallux valgus, the often painful and inflamed, swollen metatarsal head in the metatarsophalangeal joint commonly bulges, pushing against the shoe.

Hallux valgus: Surgery of the painful misalignment of the big toe.

The goal of treating Hallux Valgus (bunions) surgically in early stages is to preserve the joint, permanently correcting the deformity, hence restoring full and pain-free flexibility of the big toe.

Foot specialist approach to Mortons Neuroma Surgery © Viewmedica

Mortons neuroma is the painful inflammation of a nerve in the frontal part of the foot. Morton's Neuroma is often associated with splay foot (incorrect pressure on the foot which triggers further foot problems). Typical symptoms of Mortons Neuroma are numbness or tingling of the foot. Many patients experience immediate relief after removing their shoes. The most common location of Morton's neuroma pain is the ball of the foot (where the toes join the rest of the foot) and in the space between the third and fourth toes.

Dr. Thomas Schneider

With a splay foot, the transverse bulge of the forefoot disappears, causing, according to the degree of severity, the foot to be strained in places not used to pressure. The forefoot is broadened and the metatarsal bones splay fan-shaped. Often this is accompanied by a painful callused protrusion that is tender under pressure. Because of the pain, the normal rolling mechanism of the foot is disturbed and the patients instinctively malposition their foot causing the shoe to become crooked and bend outwardly.