What to expect at a surgical consultation

Call 908-215-5953 or book online through Zocdoc. When you schedule, let us know if you were referred by another physician, and if you’ve had a recent injury or a foot wound that needs to be seen quickly. Some insurance plans require a referral for specialist visits — your carrier can confirm what your plan needs.

Please bring:

• Photo ID and your insurance card
• A current list of medications and allergies
• Reports, and the images themselves if you can (on a disc or through a portal), from previous X-rays, CT scans, MRIs or ultrasounds
• Operative reports from any previous foot, ankle or leg surgery
• The shoes you wear most often and for sport or work, and any orthotics, braces or supports
• A few notes about your problem — when it started, where it hurts, what makes it better or worse, and what you have already tried

Wear or bring clothing that lets your lower legs be examined easily, such as shorts or loose trousers.

Most of the first visit is spent listening and examining.

• Your story: when the problem started, what it feels like, what makes it better or worse, previous treatments, injuries and operations, your work and activities, and your general health.
• Examination: how your feet and ankles look and line up while you stand and walk; motion, strength and stability of the joints; tendons and ligaments; skin, circulation and sensation.
• Footwear: how your shoes and any orthotics fit and wear.
• Discussion: what we think is going on, how confident we are, and the options — including what happens if you choose to wait.

Many people leave the first visit with a working diagnosis and a plan. Sometimes further testing is needed first.

Tests are recommended only when they will help answer a specific question or change your plan.

• X-rays taken while you stand show how the bones line up under your body weight, and are the usual first test. X-rays are available on site at our practice, so they can often be taken at the same visit.
• Ultrasound can look at tendons and other soft tissues without radiation, and it is also available on site. CT or MRI may be recommended to look at bone in detail, or at tendons, ligaments and cartilage; we arrange these with an imaging center and go over the results with you. See foot and ankle imaging.
• Circulation, nerve and blood tests may be arranged with other specialists, for example when you have diabetes, a wound, or numbness. We coordinate the testing and review the results with you.

For many foot and ankle problems, treatment starts with non-surgical care: footwear and padding, orthotics or bracing, exercise and physical therapy, activity changes, and medication or an injection when appropriate.

We’ll agree on what to try, how long to give it, and when to meet again. Tendons, joints and bones settle slowly, so treatments are usually given weeks to months before deciding whether they are working. Some injuries — such as an unstable fracture, a midfoot injury, a ruptured tendon or an infected wound — need prompt attention, and we’ll tell you if that applies to you.

Read more about how treatment is approached and non-surgical care.

Surgery is discussed when symptoms persist despite well-tried non-surgical care, when an injury or condition needs it, and when the expected benefit outweighs the risks for you. If it is recommended, we will talk through:

• what the operation involves and why it is recommended for you
• realistic results, the risks, and the alternatives — including not having surgery
• preparation, which may include medical clearance from your primary care physician, and steps you can take — such as stopping smoking or controlling blood sugar — to lower your risks
• where the surgery will take place — a hospital or surgery center where Dr. Ozturk has privileges — and the type of anesthesia
• recovery: when you can put weight on the foot, and when you can return to work, driving, shoes and exercise

You are always welcome to take time to decide, or to seek a second opinion. See preparing for foot and ankle surgery.

Recovery depends on the operation and on how you heal. You’ll have a schedule for weight-bearing, dressing and stitch care, physical therapy and follow-up visits. Swelling can last for months, and full recovery from some operations takes six months or more.

If something feels wrong between visits — fever, spreading redness, wound drainage, calf pain or swelling, a cold or blue foot, or pain that isn’t controlled — call the office. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

See recovery after foot and ankle surgery.