From chronic disorders to traumatic injuries, the podiatry specialists at Baptist Health South Florida have expertise in treating a wide range of conditions related to the foot, ankle and lower leg. For children, adults and seniors, our compassionate and skilled team will find a treatment that helps you stay as healthy and mobile as possible.
The Baptist Health South Florida podiatry team specializes in conditions below the knee, such as foot injuries, infections and diabetic foot care. Our team includes podiatrists who are Board-certified and Board-qualified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, as well as by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine.
Thanks to our close collaboration with other Baptist Health teams, our podiatry patients get access to a large and diverse group of specialists, including vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists and nutritionists. This comprehensive care helps ensure we’re effectively treating every aspect of your condition and not just the foot.
What type of podiatry conditions are treated at Baptist Health South Florida?
- Wounds
- Diabetic Foot Conditions like Neuropathy
- Fractures
- Foreign Bodies
- Traumatic Injuries
- Infections
- Fungal Issues, such as Athlete's Foot
- Nail Care
- Foot Deformities, such as Charcot Foot
- Ingrown Toenails
- Soft-tissue Tumors
- Bone Tumors
How do you diagnose podiatry conditions?
Before starting treatment for a podiatry condition, we will conduct a physical exam. You may also undergo blood tests or imaging tests, such as an X-ray.
We also work closely with other specialists to ensure patients are receiving the best possible treatment option.
Which podiatry treatments do you offer at Baptist Health South Florida?
The podiatry specialists at Baptist Health South Florida focus on using conservative treatments whenever possible. This may include wound care, braces or orthotics. We also have access to hyperbaric medicine for wound treatment, which uses pure, pressurized oxygen to initiate healing.
If conservative options are not effective in treating your condition, we may recommend surgery. In the case of a traumatic injury, we may use surgery to repair the injury and add orthopedic implants, such as plates or screws, to help the injury heal.
We may also use surgery with fluoroscopy to remove foreign bodies, such as glass, rocks or thorns. This treatment uses live X-rays in the operating room to ensure we remove all of the foreign body.
If you have a severe foot deformity, we may recommend reconstructive surgery to prevent amputation and improve use of your foot.
Depending on your condition, you may also need rehabilitation after your treatment. If that’s the case, our team will work closely with Baptist Health rehabilitation specialists to ensure your transition from treatment to rehabilitation is as seamless as possible.
What does diabetic foot care entail at Baptist Health South Florida?
We take a comprehensive approach to diabetic foot care, incorporating specialists from infectious disease, vascular surgery, endocrinology and interventional radiology. Each team member plays a crucial role in helping patients heal and manage their disease. Our patients also have access to diabetes educators, who work with patients to develop healthy diets that can help manage their disease and improve wound healing.
If you are suffering from a diabetic foot wound or ulcer, our team will provide regular wound care or ulcer treatments, which involve keeping the wounds clean and dry. In some cases, you may need wound care at home in-between visits, which will be done by home health nurses specially trained in wound care. We work closely with home health agencies to make sure your wound care can be adjusted based on the wound’s appearance or how it is healing.
If your wound is infected, we may use hyperbaric medicine treatments or recommend surgery to remove infected or dead tissue or bone. You may also be prescribed antibiotic medicines to prevent the infection from spreading.
We may also recommend reconstructive surgery if you develop a foot deformity, such as Charcot foot.
In severe cases, we may use amputation to treat a deformity or to stop the spread of infection and save the remaining limb.
Find a Podiatrist
Baptist Health has multiple physicians specializing in podiatry. Click here to find the right podiatrist for you.
Our Approach
When you come to Baptist Health South Florida for podiatry care, you can expect:
- To be treated like family, with a team of specialists who will stay with you throughout your treatment process.
- Comprehensive, whole-person care that treats your condition or injury from multiple angles.
- A conservative approach to treatment that uses non-invasive or minimally invasive therapies whenever possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The frequency of your visits will depend on the size and location of your wound and whether you have a history of infection. Some patients may only need to come in once every two weeks, while others may need to come in weekly.
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For patients with diabetes-related foot injuries, the healing time depends on many different factors. Certain health conditions, such as vascular disease, and lifestyle habits, like smoking, can slow down healing time. We will work closely with you to treat these other conditions to help improve your healing time and overall health.
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Many of our patients come to us after receiving treatment at another institution, and we welcome anyone who needs a second opinion or a different treatment approach. We pride ourselves on the success stories of our patients, many of whom have left our care healed after previous unsuccessful treatments.