Many people now take a weight-loss or diabetes injection such as Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro, and two questions come up in clinic: will it help my foot, and do I need to stop it before my operation? The first studies looking at the foot and ankle, published in 2025 and 2026, are largely reassuring –...
Author: mattwelckadmin (Matthew Welck)
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INFOGRAPHIC: Ankle replacement or fusion – which is best for me?
Ankle fusion and total ankle replacement are the two main operations for ankle arthritis that no longer settles with non-surgical treatment. Both can relieve pain well, and the better option depends on the individual: age and activity level, the health of the neighbouring joints, body weight, any deformity, the condition of the skin and circulation,...
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When Can I Drive After Foot and Ankle Surgery?
There is no set number of weeks in UK law before you can drive after foot or ankle surgery. What matters is whether you can control the car and do an emergency stop as quickly as normal. Braking studies show that after surgery on the right foot, most people can brake safely by 6 to...
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Fixing Lisfranc injuries – screws or tightropes?
When a Lisfranc injury in the middle of the foot needs surgery, the bones can be held in place with metal screws and plates, or with a TightRope – a strong braided cord with a small button at each end that works more like the original ligament. For injuries that affect only the ligament, current...
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Ankle Replacement in the UK: What the 2026 National Joint Registry Shows
The latest National Joint Registry report looks at nearly 13,000 ankle replacements carried out in England and Wales between 2010 and 2025. More are being done each year, the typical patient is around 69, and about 9 in 10 had not needed further surgery 10 years later. Younger patients, particularly younger women, are more likely...
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Pain Relief After Foot and Ankle Surgery: Is it going to really hurt?
Worry about pain is one of the most common reasons people put off foot and ankle surgery. Pain relief has changed a great deal, and for most operations a nerve block keeps the foot numb for around 24 to 36 hours — covering the period when pain would normally be at its worst. This guide...
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What Is the Right Age to Have an Ankle Replacement?
If you’ve been offered an ankle replacement — or been told you’re too young for one — it’s worth knowing what the evidence actually shows. No UK or international guideline sets a minimum age; the “over 50” rule many patients hear is a habit rather than a rule, based on results from implants no longer...
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Injections for Ankle Arthritis: A Guide for Patients
If you’ve been offered an injection for ankle arthritis — or seen one advertised — it’s worth knowing what the evidence actually shows. In careful trials, people often improve by about the same amount whether they receive the real treatment or a dummy salt-water injection, which makes it hard to know which treatments genuinely help....
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Hammer Toes and Claw Toes: Why They Happen and What Can Be Done
A bent toe is rarely the whole problem — it's often a sign of a bunion, a torn ligament under the joint, or a tight calf pulling more weight onto the front of the foot. This article explains the difference between hammer, claw and crossover toes, when non-surgical treatment is enough, and what the evidence actually says about wires versus the newer internal implants.
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The Midfoot Injury That Gets Missed: Lisfranc Explained
A twisted foot that gets diagnosed as a simple sprain does not always improve the way a sprain should. When the injury involves the ligaments and joints in the middle of the foot — the Lisfranc joint — a standard X-ray can look entirely normal, and the diagnosis is often missed until the joint has...