Heel Surgery

What is heel surgery and what can it treat?

Heel surgery is a minimally invasive procedure with incredibly life-changing results. It can treat conditions like heel spurs and plantar fasciitis, bringing you the relief you deserve.

Exercise, injuries, and aging can create heel spurs, leading to daily pain. They can also impede your mobility and cause plantar fasciitis. Thankfully, there is an effective treatment that can alleviate your pain and address your bone spurs: heel surgery.

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Andrew Ebert, M.D.

Andrew Ebert, M.D.
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About Bone Spurs

Heel spurs, or calcaneal spurs, are painful growths that can form on your foot. They are calcium deposits that accumulate between the heel and arch due to stress on the foot ligaments. Unfortunately, spurs can impede your mobility and bring daily heel pain. If you develop bone spurs, the Orthopedic Specialists of Austin in the Austin, TX, area can restore your comfort and mobility through surgical treatment. To help you understand how this surgery can benefit you, let's first take a look at the causes of bone spurs.

Bone spurs often form where two joints meet. They can develop on your heels, along with other places on your body, such as your ankles, hips, and spine. Bone spurs can also affect a larger section of your foot: the plantar fascia.

What symptoms do bone spurs present?

If you have bone spurs on your heel or ankle, you're probably aware of them with every step. Symptoms include:
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  • Swelling and inflammation

  • Heel pain (though not all people feel it)

  • Visible bone-like protrusion around the heel

  • Difficulty walking

What are some of the causes of bone spurs?

A variety of activities can lead to spurs along your heel bone. They include:
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  • Routinely engaging in high-impact exercises, like running

  • Being born with a genetic predisposition to spurs

  • Receiving injuries on your foot, heel, or tendon

  • Having an above-average body weight

  • Walking abnormally

  • Living a sedentary lifestyle

  • Having flat feet

  • The aging process

How can I prevent bone spurs?

If you've had bone spurs in the past, you may be worried about getting them on your heel bone again. After all, not only are they painful on their own, but they can also cause other uncomfortable conditions.

Bone spurs sometimes have a genetic link, so you cannot fully prevent them. However, you can decrease your chances of developing bone spurs by implementing these changes to your lifestyle:

  • Exercising regularly

  • Maintaining a healthy weight

  • Using shoe inserts for support

  • Changing your shoes to a pair that fits better
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Your bone spurs don't have to cause heel pain, stress, or decreased mobility. At Orthopedic Specialists of Austin, our doctors can expertly remove the bone spurs on your ankle or heel through surgery.

Discuss preventative care with our team.

At Orthopedic Specialists of Austin, we have a team of board-certified specialists who can treat a wide range of conditions. Our specialists use the most advanced techniques to provide minimally invasive treatment options.

request an appointment Call (512) 476-2830

Do I Have Bunions or Heel Spurs?

Though heel spurs and bunions both appear on your foot, they're two different conditions. Spurs usually occur on your ankle or the back of your foot at your heel. Bunions, however, form along your big toe. Bunions also have a different cause: toe bones that have shifted into the wrong areas.

Though bunions may also require surgical treatment, it's an entirely different surgical procedure than the one you would need for heel pain.

How Does Heel Spur Surgery Work?

Dr. Andrew Ebert of Orthopedic Specialists of Austin can partially or fully remove your heel bone spurs using calcaneal spur reduction, a type of outpatient surgical procedure. Here's how the process works:

Consultation

Treatment begins with a consultation at our offices serving Austin, TX. If you have prior X-rays or documentation, bring them along to streamline the process. We can also take scans in our office to determine the best course of action, such as surgery.

Sedation

The day of your surgery has arrived. During the treatment, we'll keep you comfortable. Depending on the extent of the procedure, we may use a local anesthetic combined with sedation or general anesthesia.

Surgery

During surgery, Dr. Cosculluella and Dr. Ebert will create two incisions on either side of your heel. A small camera will be inserted through one of the insertions, with surgical instruments inserted through the other incision.

Removal

Your doctor can use all of these tools to detach all or a portion of the plantar fascia from your heel bone. They may also remove the heel spur itself. The exact approach to the surgery will depend on your needs.

Closing Incisions

After the necessary work is completed, we close the incisions. After that, the surgery is done.

Rest

Your foot will be placed in a boot or cast to keep it comfortable and supported during the healing process. You'll need to refrain from many of your normal daily activities for a week.

Follow-Up

You'll return to our Austin, TX, offices anywhere from three to seven days after your heel surgery. During this time, we'll remove your bandages or sutures. We'll also check on how you're healing and answer any questions you have.

Long-Term Recovery

After your surgery, it may take anywhere from several weeks to three months for you to recover. This depends on your case and how you respond to treatment. We'll be with you every step of the way to monitor your healing process and address your questions or concerns.

The best habits you can develop and maintain are:

  • Wearing the proper footwear and support

  • Eating healthy

  • Giving yourself rest days

  • Alleviating pain with ice

  • Refraining from running on hard surfaces

  • Visiting your orthopedist as soon as you notice any problems

  • Choosing low-impact exercises, like swimming or water aerobics

  • Stretching before working out


These practices will also improve your the overall health and longevity of your feet, preventing the need for ankle surgery and other invasive procedures. Plus, the above advice can also improve the health of your entire body. Have questions about ankle, tendon, and heel care?

Why Should I Choose an Orthopedic Specialist Instead of a Podiatrist?

If you’re dealing with heel pain, bone spurs, or ongoing foot and ankle issues, choosing the right specialist matters. Orthopedic specialists are trained to evaluate and treat the full musculoskeletal system, how your bones, joints, muscles, and tendons work together, allowing for a more comprehensive approach to care.

Heel pain and bone spurs are often linked to underlying conditions involving the foot, ankle, or surrounding structures. Our orthopedic specialists are equipped to diagnose the root cause and develop a treatment plan focused on relieving pain, restoring function, and supporting long-term outcomes.

What Our Patients Say

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Dr. Seade did an excellent job on my torn rotator cuff repair! He also had to remove a bone spur and reattach my bicep muscle! My recovery has went very well and after 12 weeks I finally get to start strength training on my left shoulder and arm! I will be back barrel racing in no time!

LeAnn N.

I injured my shoulder over three years ago and had surgery to fix it (by a different physician). It just got progressively worse and I lived through it for three years.  I finally went to see Dr Seade for a full regular shoulder replacement.  It was an amazing experience!!!  He and his team are phenomenal!  I am going into the third month post surgery and doing strong in my PT.  The pain level is low, only sore muscles when I am doing PT.  A beautiful pain and I am on the trajectory to being me again!  Thanks to Dr. Seade and his amazing team!!!

Florence M.

Let me just tell you that if you need shoulder surgery there is only one place to go and that's Dr. Eddie Seade @ Orthopaedic Specialists of Austin. Dr. Seade and his entire staff take the cake when it comes to thoroughly lining out expectations, attention to details, detailed follow up and making sure that they answer all of your questions. Would not go anywhere else!!

Randy D.

Dr. Catlett took the time to explain the process of hip replacement and the robotics used He made my daughter and I very comfortable and confident with the procedure my daughter and granddaughter also will be having surgeries by these drs I would recommend them to anyone

Patient

Have you ever had a doctor send you emails every few days before and after a procedure? No? What about to encourage you, check to see how you’re doing, or instruct you on what physical therapy would be best to start at home after your surgery? No? Then you’re working with the wrong doctor! Dr. Seade was proactive in reaching out- And it was greatly appreciated I have already highly recommended him to a few of my friends and acquaintances. I can’t speak highly enough about the confidence he gave me before during and after my procedure, thank you.

Kathleen V.