Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
The Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates Podiatric Medicine and Surgery department serves a diverse group of patients, including those with diabetes and vascular disease, as well as patients with neurologic disorders such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Peripheral Neuropathy, or Guillain-Barré syndrome. In addition, the Podiatric Medicine and Surgery department provides custom orthotic services, and helps patients who suffer from acute problems such as ingrown nails, plantar warts, tinea pedis, and Plantar fasciitis.
Diabetic Population
Patients with diabetes are encouraged to visit their podiatrist for yearly foot exams to evaluate the vascular (blood circulation), neurologic (nerves), orthopedic (bones and cartilage), muscular, and dermatologic (skin) status of their feet. Some high risk patients are encouraged to come in several times a year for routine foot care. Your doctor can help you determine the frequency of care you need.
Limb salvage surgery is performed on those patients with recurrent ulcerations or those with problems that could jeopardize the integrity of the limb. The early diagnosis and treatment of Charcot foot can decrease the chances of extensive foot deformity. The podiatric and orthopedic team also works with vascular surgeons from affiliated hospitals to expeditiously treat patients and ensure continuity of care.
Non-Diabetic Population
Patients with dermatologic disorders such as paronychia (toenail infection), tinea pedis (fungal infection of the skin of the foot), plantar warts, and bacterial infections are also treated. Many of these skin and nail problems are biopsied on site in the surgical procedure rooms.
Plantar fasciitis (pain in the bottom of the foot, usually worse upon rising in the morning) can be treated with conservative measures such as stretching exercises and shoe insoles with more severe cases require steroid injections. Prescriptions for custom-molded orthotics and shoes are given when medically necessary.