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The Achilles tendon is one of the largest tendons in the body that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It is involved in walking, jumping and running. Two muscles join the Achilles, the gastrocnemius (which goes above the knee) and the soleus (which starts below the knee). A complete rupture is a tear of the tendon in which there is no connection between the two torn tendon ends and the muscles cannot perform their actions.

A bunion is a bump that forms on the side of the foot also known as hallux valgus. It is a common foot condition that typically develops slowly over time, and can cause pain, discomfort, and difficulty with walking and wearing shoes.

A total ankle replacement is a surgical procedure to replace a damaged ankle joint with an artificial joint. The ankle joint is formed by the meeting of the tibia (shinbone), fibula (outer calf bone), and talus (a bone deep inside the ankle).

Many patients with ankle problems respond to non-surgical treatments and surgery should usually only be considered on failure of non-surgical treatments such as physiotherapy, rest, bracing, and/or pain killers.

Most patients with ankle problems respond to nonsurgical treatments and surgery should usually only be considered on failure of non-surgical treatments, such as activity modification, support braces, pain killers and physiotherapy.

Hallux rigidus is the Latin term for arthritis of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe (the ball of the big toe). Strictly speaking, hallux rigidus translates to “stiff big toe”, stiffness (rigidus) of the big toe (hallux).

Just like any joint, the end of the bone surface is covered in shock-absorbing cartilage, much like the gristle at the end of a chicken drumstick. In arthritis, the cartilage wears away and then bone rubs against bone, which causes pain. The big toe joint is a particularly complicated joint because there are two pea-shaped bones sitting under the big toe called the sesamoid bones, which are also involved in motion.

Arthritis can affect the two main bones (the metatarsal and the phalanx), but can also affect the joints between the sesamoids and the metatarsal.

Guide to prepare for ankle surgery

Bunions (hallux valgus) and arthritis of the big toe (hallux rigidus) are frequently accompanied by lesser toe changes such as hammer or claw toes and abnormal weight distribution under the lesser toes which can be painful (metatarsalgia). Surgery should only be considered if you have symptoms and have already tried the following measures