Surgical Podiatry

What Is Surgical Podiatry?

Surgical podiatry refers to the diagnosis and surgical remediation of conditions relating to the feet, ankles, and lower extremities.

This can involve any issue that impacts a patient’s ability to move or effectively use their lower limbs, such as bunions, sprains, torn ligaments, flat foot, broken bones, and so on. People of all ages could require the services of a surgical podiatrist, from neonates to the elderly.

Podiatric surgery is also relatively common in the sporting field, as the lower extremities can suffer impact trauma in full contact sports. Foot and ankle reconstructions are a common specialty for Board Certified Foot and Ankle podiatric surgeons.

What Do Podiatric Surgeons Do?

Podiatric surgeons specialize in providing expert care and treatment to patients with issues below the knee.

Surgical podiatry is a particular specialization following medical school, much like neurosurgery or dermatology. Following four years as an undergrad and four years in medical school, future podiatric surgeons spend an additional 3-4 years honing their skills until they are experts in their field.

Within surgical podiatry professionals can specialize further in certain procedures such as reconstructions, trauma, diabetic limb salvage and sports medicine.

Who Needs Podiatric Surgery?

Anyone who is suffering from any debilitating condition affecting their lower extremities could benefit from a consultation with a podiatric foot and ankle surgeon.

Those who play contact sports are at greater risk of requiring surgical assistance for broken bones, strained muscles or joint reconstructions. People who suffer from bunions caused by tight shoes or genetics could also improve their quality of life through surgery.

How Are Podiatric Surgeries Assessed?

Podiatric surgeries are assessed in much the same way as any other surgery.

Your podiatric surgeon will consult with you and ask you about what is troubling you and what you would like to address. They will collect a detailed history of your injury to determine the likely cause and the best corrective procedure.

To have the most complete picture of what is happening around the injury site, x-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds may be requested to ensure the surgeon has as much information as possible before the procedure.

Once all the information has been gathered and assessed by the surgeon, they will discuss your options and what they perceive to be the best course of action for you.

What Podiatric Surgeries Do We Perform?

Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital is proud to offer an extensive range of podiatric surgeries to our community from one of the leading podiatric surgeons in the state. Some of the procedures we offer include:

  • Orthopedic deformities – bunions, hammer toes, flatfeet, arthritis in ankle and foot
  • Sports Medicine Conditions – tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, sprains, tendon ruptures
  • Warts – hand and feet
  • Ingrown nails
  • Wound care
  • Diabetic limb salvage
  • Emergent fracture repair below the knee
  • Neonate/ Pediatric care consulting and surgical

How Long Does It Take To Recover From Podiatric Surgery?

As with most types of surgery, recovery times for podiatric surgery will vary depending on the complexity and extent of your particular procedure.

Average recovery times for something like a foot and ankle reconstruction can take up to 9 months, whereas a bunionectomy could have a recovery time around 8 weeks.

Whatever your situation, your podiatric surgeon will explain the aftercare required for your procedure and ensure you are set up with any physical therapy or dressing changes you might need during your recovery period.

John Niemela, D.P.M - Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital
Surgical Podiatry
JOHN NIEMELA, D.P.M

Dr. Niemela is an Upper Peninsula native from Marquette, MI. He graduated with Honors from Michigan State University with a Bachelors Degree majoring in Medical Technology. He completed a one year internship for Medical Technology at Hurley Hospital in Flint, Michigan. Following the internship, he worked as a Medical Technologist for three years at Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph, Michigan before attending medical school at Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. Before receiving his medical school degree, he earned a second bachelors degree from Scholl College: Bachelors in Biology.

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Read what Patients have to say about Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital

Everyone in the ambulatory care/outpatient surgery were great!! They all made me feel very comfortable and did a great job!!! thank you to the whole outpatient staff and Doctor Rayner..I would recommend Schoolcraft or patient to anyone in need of surgery

Reviewer: Jeremy Sitkoski

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5 out of 5 stars

The care that was provided by The nurses (Cindy, Felicia Ruth) and staff was exceptional. The entire staff was very friendly and made you feel welcome. We received a call from Felicia the next day to check on my husband to check his pain level and do a follow up. The surgery area from check in to check out was well organized, clean, and up to date. Thank you to all of you for what you do so well and everything beyond your normal duties.

Reviewer: Maureen DesChamps

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5 out of 5 stars

Dr. Ranier did a tonsilectomy for our daughter. He and his staff were so kind and caring that our daughter fell in love with them all
I met Dr. Vix in the Emergency Room and he is the best doctor I've ever seen. His bedside manner is so kind, gentle, amd reassuring. He took his time and really made me feel listened to. He explained his treatment decisions and logic clearly, and left room to ask questions. He made sure that I understood and agreed with it before doing anything. He was very kind, and he and all the staff were very caring about my comfort while waiting.
I've been very pleased so far working with Dr Bambach, and really the whole staff at Schoolcraft.
Dr houve is great so is his nurse Cleo
Doctor Hoeve is very compassionate and very thorough. He listens and answers all of your questions. Never rushes through the appointments. We are fortunate to have him here in Manistique.
Very professional,friendly and caring. Made my stay very comfortable.
Excellent Doctor
Listened to my concerns and gave me options to help with my problems
Simply the best!!
I had my first visit with Andrew Anderson. He was very knowledgeable and took time to answer all my questions. He was up on all new meds for my condition and side effects. Definitely a good experience.
Dr. Rayner explained everything very well and the procedure was painless.
Wonderful very understanding
All went well with the visit.
After 5 years of suffering this serious buzzing inside my head...from a severe case of covid in 2019...the same covid the ceo of Texas roadhouse caught also...he had buzzing in his head so bad it was tinnitus....well look the story up c how the outcome was for him.....now for myself I've been suffering for so long with no answers also....its ruining my life....so I heard Dr.Raynor has years of experience and practiced at mayo clinic and I felt with those credentials I could finally get some answers...I did get some...he gave me a hearing test...and like I've been saying for years ,I'm not hearing it...it's inside my head....I've been laughed at...made fun of in my home town from friends and family saying I'm crazy....so now because of Dr Raynor I at least know now I'm not hearing it....so Dr Raynor is suggesting the next step taking a brain scan...mri...and I'm so excited finally someone is taking me seriously and taking steps to get to the bottom of it! And that's all I want is it to go away....I didn't ask for this...I didn't ask for 2 bouts of covid where I was brought to the brink of death both times...fired from my job by the same clueless foreman...that also thought I was crazy and it was just me being useless on the job...when I was struggling and fighting to hold on to my morgage...my livelihood...only to be fired and refusing to believe that covid was even real....it's real....so Dr Raynor is the first Dr to take me seriously....he also recommended acupuncture!... I'll try anything at this point...so you asked me how my experience was at school craft memorial hospital...is I rate it as a 10.....and want to thank Dr Raynor and his staff...they where very welcoming and nurse Kelly was the first person I talked to and she was compassionate and understanding the suffering I was going threw after I told her this big long debacle of a story...she encouraged me to get services to help me cause I had no where to turn after being fired 2 times....I have a hard time focusing and thinking just to get threw every day...trying to ignore this stupid buzzing....so yes after getting off the phone with nurse Kelly and she told me thar Dr Rayner was the best I finally after 5 years had some hope and she said they would get to the bottom of this problem and after visiting the facilities and taking seriously for once...I feel there is hope now....Thankyou!
They did amazing and gave me answers really fast
Was very comfortable with Jen Casey. Very personable and she explained things so thoroughly. I feel confident in her dealing withy heart issues! Thank you, Jen!
Dr. Rayner and his team were fantastic with my surgery!!
It was wonderful. She took time to listen and answered all my questions. Made me feel very good to be treated so well.
Smooth visit. Great care as always.
Dr Raynor was thorough, explained things regarding my treatment in an unhurried manner. Dr Raynor answered all my questions completely and treated me with respect and concern. I feel I will be well cared for and am confident that I’ve chosen an excellent surgeon.
Doc has an awesome bedside manner and quickly diagnosed my issue