our specialist FOOT & ANKLE consultants
Foot & ankle care at Grosvenor Orthopaedics is lead by Mr Tim Sinnett. A graduate of Cambridge and Imperial College medical schools and leading academic and trauma consultant for Chelsea and Westminster NHS trust. He is further supported by the orthopaedic team here including other consultant surgeons, nurses and care staff.
Our team are well placed to manage and treat a diverse range of foot and ankle concerns utilising cutting edge diagnostic technology and treatment approaches, both surgical and conservative. Below is an overview of some of the conditions we treat but for a more thorough understanding please contact our team here
MR TIM SINNETT
Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Specialist in Foot and Ankle Surgery
Conditions Diagnosed & Treated
Below is an outline of some of the major foot and ankle disorders that we specialise in here, but typically most issues of the foot or ankle that warrant a specialist referral can be successfully investigated through our team. If you are suffering from ankle and foot problems and are looking for definitive medical support then please let us know.
ANKLE
Osteoarthritis
Ankle osteoarthritis, sometimes simply referred to as ankle arthritis, is a joint condition which results from damage and loss of the cartilage in a joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, can affect the ankle joints in the same way as other joints, causing pain, inflammation, and swelling.
Chondral (cartilage) injuries
This is damage to the cartilage of a joint. Osteochondral injury or OCD is where there is also damage to the underlying bone. In the foot and ankle, the most common site is the talus bone of the ankle joint. Injury to this site is often referred to as Osteochondral lesion of the talus, or OLT.
Impingement
Ankle impingement is a condition that causes a painful limitation of ankle range of motion due to a soft-tissue or bony abnormality.
MIDFOOT
Midfoot arthritis
Midfoot arthritis is characterized by pain and swelling in the midfoot, aggravated by standing and walking. There is often an associated bony prominence on the top of the foot. Usually the symptoms develop gradually over time, although it can occur following a major midfoot injury, such as a Lisfranc injury.
Lis franc injuries
A Lisfranc joint injury is a type of injury to the bones or ligaments in the middle part of your foot, the tarsometatarsal joint. It can range from mild to severe. Your Lisfranc joint injury might cause bruising, deformity, swelling, or pain in the middle of your foot.
Os naviculare syndrome
An Os Naviculare is an accessory bone that is a common genetic variant. It is usually asymptomatic but can become inflamed causing Os Naviculare Syndrome. There are several different types of accessory bones and they are grouped according to their position, shape and relationship with the adjacent bone.
Hindfoot
Achilles ruptures
An Achilles tendon rupture is a tear of the tendon that connects your calf muscles to your heel bone. Achilles tendon rupture is a common injury that usually happens while playing sport or doing exercise. If you rupture your Achilles tendon, you’ll find it difficult to walk, run, climb stairs or stand on tiptoe.
Insertional Achilles tendinopathy
Insertional Achilles tendinitis involves the lower portion of the tendon, where it attaches (inserts) to the heel bone (also known as the calcaneus).
Non- insertional Achilles tendinopathy
In noninsertional Achilles tendinitis, fibers in the middle portion of the tendon (above where it attaches to the heel) are affected. Over time, the fibers may begin to break down and develop tiny tears. This can lead to tendon swelling and thickening.
Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia, a part of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes.
Tibialis posterior tendon dysfunction
Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction is one of the most common problems of the foot and ankle. It occurs when the posterior tibial tendon becomes inflamed or torn. As a result, the tendon may not be able to provide stability and support for the arch of the foot, resulting in flatfoot.
Peroneal tendon disorders
Peroneal tendon disorders are a cause of hindfoot and lateral foot pain. There are three primary disorders of the tendons; Peroneal tendonitis, peroneal subluxation, and peroneal tendon tears. These conditions are a cause of lateral ankle pain and may lead to ankle instability
Pes planus (flat foot)
Pes planus commonly referred to as “flat feet,” is a relatively common foot deformity and is defined by the loss of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot where it contacts or nearly contacts the ground.
Pes cavus
Pes cavus is a foot with an abnormally high plantar longitudinal arch. People who have this condition will place too much weight and stress on the ball and heel of the foot while standing and/or walking.
Triple joint complex (subtalar, talo-navicular, calcano-cuboid) arthritis
These three joints make up the majority of the hindfoot. They have been mentioned in other parts of this section and can be affected individually or in combination.
Calf tightness
Calf tightness can occur in a number of ways. It refers to stiffness and a lack of flexibility in the two muscles which make up the calf – the soleus and the gastrocnemius. Because these muscles are essential to movement, calf tightness can affect other areas of the body when moving, walking or exercising.
Forefoot
Forefoot overload
Forefoot overload can cause a variety of symptoms, one or several in combination may occur. Check to know about symptoms, causes and treatment options.
Hallux valgus (bunions)
The main symptoms of bunions are hard lumps on the side of your feet near your toes. Your big toe might also point towards your other toes.
Hallux rigidus (big toe arthritis)
A common problem which affects the big toe is called hallux rigidus or stiff big toe. ‘Hallux’ is the Greek word for big toe and ‘rigidus’ indicates the joint is stiff and inflexible.
Hallux varus
Hallux varus is a condition affecting the big toe. As opposed to a bunion, which causes the big toe to point inward toward the other toes, hallux varus causes the big toe to point away from the other toes. The most common symptom other than the directional leaning of the toe is pain.
Hallux interphalangeus
Hallux valgus interphalangeus is a deformity of the big toe characterised by an abnormal (valgus) angulation between the two bones (proximal and distal phalanx) forming the end of the big toe. It is considered present if the two end bones (proximal and distal phalanx) forms an angle exceeding 10 degrees.
Transfer metatarsalgia
Transfer metatarsalgia occurs when excessive loading is transferred from the first ray to the lesser metatarsal heads and pain is experienced under one or several lesser rays.
Freiberg's infraction
Freiberg infraction pattern results in flattening and collapse of the head of the second metatarsophalangeal joint, leading to degenerative changes and progressing to arthritis. Considered to be an uncommon process, avascular necrosis of the second metatarsal is the fourth most common osteochondrosis.
Hammer toe
A hammer toe is a deformity of the second, third or fourth toes. In this condition, the toe is bent at the middle joint, so that it resembles a hammer.
Mallet toe
A mallet toe refers to an upward bend at the toe joint. It may cause the toe to look curled instead of flat. Mallet toe happens mostly in the second toe, next to the big toe. That’s because it’s often the longest of the four smaller toes. But mallet toe can also affect the third and fourth toes.
Curly toes
This is a common condition that is usually present at birth (congenital) but can become more noticeable when your child starts walking. It tends to affect the third, fourth and fifth toes on one or both feet.
Morton’s Neuromas
Morton’s neuroma occurs as the nerve passes under the ligament connecting the toe bones (metatarsals) in the forefoot.
Morton’s neuroma most frequently develops between the third and fourth toes, usually in response to irritation, trauma or excessive pressure.
Bunionettes
Bunionette, also known as tailor´s bunion can be defined as the protuberance-shaped deformity that affects the joint of the fifth toe. This is not as common as Hallux valgus or bunion that consists of a bony bump at the joint located at the base of the big toe. However, either Bunionette or Bunion share similar causes and symptoms.
Plantar plate injuries
A plantar plate injury refers to an injury to one of the strong ligaments on the underside of the foot. The plantar plate is a tough fibrocartilagenous.
Nail disorders including ingrowing nails
An ingrown toenail develops when the sides of the toenail grow into the surrounding skin.
The big toe is often affected, either on one or both sides. The nail curls and pierces the skin, which becomes red, swollen and tender.
Sesamoiditis
Sesamoiditis is an inflammation of the sesamoid bones in the ball of the foot and the tendons they are embedded in. It’s usually caused by overuse, especially by dancers, runners and athletes who frequently bear weight on the balls of their feet. It’s treated with rest and anti-inflammatory medication
Stress fractures
A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone, or severe bruising within a bone. Most stress fractures are caused by overuse and repetitive activity; they are common in runners and athletes who participate in running-intensive sports, such as soccer and basketbal
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTION videoS
Below are a series of videos answering some of the most frequently asked questions about knee surgery from our own Mr Tim Sinnett - Foot and Ankle Specialist Surgeon