An ankle cheilectomy is a surgical procedure that may be recommended if bone spurs in your foot and ankle are not responding to conservative care techniques. The goal of the procedure is to relieve pain and discomfort caused by the formation of bony overgrowth and allow for more normal movement and flexibility in the ankle region. Below, we take a closer look at why the procedure is conducted and how a cheilectomy is performed.

Who Benefits From A Cheilectomy?

As we mentioned in the introduction, a cheilectomy is commonly pursued as a method for managing bone spurs that have developed somewhere within the ankle or foot complex. These bony overgrowths can develop on your talus or tibia, which are the upper and lower bones of your ankle, or they can develop at the base of your big toe. Wherever these bony spurs develop, they can cause discomfort when bodily movement causes these spurs to irritate nearby soft tissues. For patients with bone spurs in the ankle, this discomfort is most noticeable when lifting their toes upwards (dorsiflexion), which limits the natural space between the tibia and talus. Many patients find that discomfort is amplified when performing action that forces the foot in this direction, like when they are going up stairs.

A cheilectomy procedure may also be recommended if your bone spurs are the result of moderate to severe arthritis, although it won’t be able to reverse the damage that already exists. Whatever your underlying reason for pursuing a cheilectomy, it will only be considered if non-operative techniques fail to produce results. Your doctor will likely recommend weeks of physical therapy and other techniques like activity modification, weight loss and controlled range of motion exercises to see if you can manage the problem without the need for surgery. Even though a cheilectomy can be carried out using minimally invasive techniques, it’s best to avoid surgery if at all possible.

How Is A Cheilectomy Performed?

The most common way for a cheilectomy to be performed is arthroscopically (minimally invasive), but the surgeon may opt for the open technique if the patient is dealing with particularly large bone spurs. During the minimally invasive procedure, a few small incisions will be made along the ankle joint. Specialized tools are inserted, including an arthroscope, which is a thin tube with a light and a camera attached to it. This tool can be navigated into position in order to relay a live feed of the ankle cavity onto a screen that the surgeon can view inside the operating room. This allows them to visualize and excise the spur without creating a large incision to directly view the spur.

Once in position, an instrument such as a burr or chisel is used to remove the problematic spur. After the surgeon is confident that the offending spurs have been addressed, they’ll remove their tools and close the small incision sites before moving the patient to a recovery room.

Most patients make a pretty quick recovery following an ankle cheilectomy. You may be told not to bear any weight on the ankle for 1-3 weeks, or you may be allowed to bear some weight if given a special cast/walking boot by your surgeon. It can take up to six weeks for you to be able to return to your normal shoes and normal physical activities. Your specific course of recovery will be dictated by the surgeon overseeing your treatment and recovery. It is also crucial that you throw yourself into your physical therapy exercises once allowed by your surgeon, as this will be key to reestablishing strength and range of motion in the ankle joint.

For more information about the ankle cheilectomy procedure, or for help with a different foot or ankle issue, reach out to Dr. McDonald and his team today at (860) 244-8889.