Podiatric Surgery
Podiatric surgery is a specialist field in the podiatry profession. It is defined as "the surgical treatment of conditions affecting the foot, ankle and related lower extremity structures by accredited and qualified specialist podiatrists".
Specialist Surgical Podiatrists have been working in Australia since 1975, and are also present in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Specialist Surgical Podiatrists are podiatrists who have completed extensive, post-graduate medical and surgical training, which enables them to perform reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. An average Specialist Surgical Podiatrist spends 10 years of exposure to foot and ankle-related diseases and would have treated 20,000 patients before attaining the title of surgeon. Naturally, this enables a Specialist Surgical Podiatrist to have a special and greater medical, biomechanical and functional understanding of the foot and ankle.
The qualifications of Specialist Surgical Podiatrists are recognised by Australian State and Federal Governments. Specialist Surgical Podiatrists are included within both the Health Insurance Act and the National Health Act, and are nationally listed as surgeons and specialists.