Foot and Ankle Surgery Course

Lesson 1 • Tendon Anatomy and Pulley Systems

Describes extrinsic and intrinsic tendon courses, sheaths, and retinacular pulleys. Prepares students for tendon repair and transfer procedures.

Lesson 2 • Neurovascular Supply and Compartments

Maps arterial, venous, and nerve distributions across foot and ankle compartments. Critical for safe surgical exposure and tourniquet management.

Lesson 3 • Ankle Joint Anatomy and Kinematics

Examines tibiotalar, subtalar, and syndesmotic anatomy with motion axes. Provides the kinematic framework required for implant selection and osteotomy planning.

Lesson 4 • Osseous Architecture of the Foot

Covers tarsal, metatarsal, and phalangeal bone morphology and biomechanical roles. Establishes the structural baseline for all surgical approaches discussed later.

Lesson 1 • Implant and Fixation Biomechanics

Examines screw, plate, nail, and staple load-sharing principles in foot and ankle bone. Connects material science to fixation construct selection.

Lesson 2 • Normal Gait Cycle Mechanics

Analyses stance and swing phase kinematics and kinetics relevant to foot and ankle function. Establishes the normal baseline against which pathology is measured.

Lesson 3 • Plantar Pressure Analysis

Covers pedobarographic measurement techniques and pressure mapping interpretation. Links pressure data to ulceration risk and offloading surgical strategies.

Lesson 1 • Templating and Operative Planning

Applies digital templating to implant sizing, osteotomy angles, and correction vectors. Bridges preoperative imaging to intraoperative execution.

Lesson 2 • Surgical Indication and Risk Stratification

Establishes criteria for operative versus nonoperative management and patient risk scoring. Ensures informed consent and optimised perioperative planning.

Lesson 3 • Clinical History and Physical Examination

Structures the history intake and systematic physical exam for foot and ankle patients. Identifies red flags and functional deficits that drive surgical indications.

Lesson 4 • Advanced Imaging Modalities

Covers CT, MRI, and nuclear medicine applications specific to foot and ankle pathology. Guides appropriate imaging selection to maximise diagnostic yield.

Lesson 1 • Anterior and Anterolateral Ankle Approaches

Details the anterior and anterolateral incision planes, interval development, and retraction. Directly applicable to ankle arthroplasty and arthroscopic portal placement.

Lesson 2 • Lateral Hindfoot and Sinus Tarsi Approaches

Describes the extensile lateral and sinus tarsi approaches for calcaneal and subtalar surgery. Provides exposure strategies for fracture fixation and coalition resection.

Lesson 3 • Posterior and Posteromedial Approaches

Covers the posterior midline, posteromedial, and trans-Achilles exposures for hindfoot access. Essential for subtalar fusion and Achilles reconstruction procedures.

Lesson 4 • Midfoot and Forefoot Exposures

Teaches dorsal, medial, and plantar approaches to the midfoot and forefoot. Supports Lisfranc reconstruction, bunion correction, and lesser toe procedures.

Lesson 1 • Posterior Ankle Arthroscopy

Teaches prone posterior arthroscopy for os trigonum, FHL pathology, and posterior impingement. Extends arthroscopic capability to the posterior compartment.

Lesson 2 • Osteochondral Lesion Classification and Treatment

Applies established grading systems to talar dome lesions and selects appropriate treatment. Covers microfracture, drilling, and fragment fixation techniques.

Lesson 3 • Arthroscopic Setup and Instrumentation

Covers patient positioning, distraction methods, scope selection, and fluid management. Establishes the technical foundation for all arthroscopic procedures in this chapter.

Lesson 4 • Cartilage Restoration and Grafting

Addresses autologous chondrocyte implantation, osteochondral autograft, and allograft options. Guides graft selection based on lesion size, depth, and patient factors.

Lesson 1 • Tibiotalocalcaneal Fusion with Retrograde Nail

Details retrograde intramedullary nail technique for combined ankle and subtalar fusion. Addresses nail entry point, locking, and compression in compromised bone.

Lesson 2 • Subtalar Arthritis and Fusion Indications

Defines subtalar arthritis staging, conservative failure criteria, and fusion candidacy. Establishes the clinical decision pathway leading to surgical intervention.

Lesson 3 • Calcaneal Osteotomies

Teaches medializing, lateralizing, and Z-osteotomy techniques for hindfoot realignment. Directly addresses varus and valgus hindfoot deformity without joint sacrifice.

Lesson 4 • Triple Arthrodesis Planning and Execution

Addresses simultaneous subtalar, talonavicular, and calcaneocuboid fusion for severe deformity. Covers sequential correction order and fixation sequencing.

Lesson 1 • Hallux Valgus Assessment and Osteotomy Selection

Applies radiographic angle measurements to select the appropriate osteotomy level and type. Matches correction magnitude to deformity severity for optimal outcomes.

Lesson 2 • Metatarsalgia and Plantar Plate Repair

Diagnoses metatarsalgia etiology and addresses plantar plate tears with direct repair. Combines Weil osteotomy with plantar plate reconstruction for complex cases.

Lesson 3 • Distal and Proximal Metatarsal Osteotomies

Teaches chevron, scarf, and proximal crescentic osteotomy techniques with fixation. Provides step-by-step execution for each osteotomy type and its indications.

Lesson 4 • First MTP Arthrodesis

Covers joint preparation, positioning, and fixation for first metatarsophalangeal fusion. Indicated for severe hallux valgus, hallux rigidus, and failed prior surgery.

Lesson 1 • Chronic Ankle Instability Reconstruction

Teaches anatomic and non-anatomic lateral ligament reconstruction for chronic instability. Covers Brostrom-Gould repair and tendon graft augmentation techniques.

Lesson 2 • Total Ankle Replacement Indications

Defines patient selection criteria, deformity limits, and contraindications for ankle arthroplasty. Contrasts arthroplasty with fusion to guide shared decision-making.

Lesson 3 • Periarticular Deformity Correction with Arthroplasty

Addresses simultaneous osteotomies and ligament balancing performed alongside ankle replacement. Ensures neutral mechanical alignment for implant longevity.

Lesson 4 • Revision Ankle Surgery and Salvage

Manages failed arthroplasty, nonunion, and malunion through revision and salvage strategies. Covers component removal, bone grafting, and conversion to fusion.