When to See an Orthopaedic Specialist for Foot and Ankle Problems

If you’re having foot and ankle problems, you may be wondering who should you call – a podiatrist or an orthopaedic specialist?

What’s the difference between the two?

Podiatrist

The key differences between a podiatrist and an orthopedist are training and scope of practice.

Podiatrists are differentiated physicians. They are not medical doctors but are called doctors of podiatric medicine.

Generally, they complete four years of undergraduate school, followed by four years of training at an accredited podiatric medical school, and three to four years of foot and ankle surgical residency training.

Podiatrists are trained to help you specifically with problems affecting the feet or lower legs. They are not trained to treat other areas of the musculoskeletal system.

Some of the conditions a podiatrist can manage include fractures and sprains, bunions and hammertoes, nail disorders, diabetic foot, arthritis, growing pains, and heel pain.

Orthopaedic Specialists

The orthopaedic specialists, on the other hand, are medical doctors. To become one, one has to complete four years of undergraduate school, four years of accredited medical school, five years of generalized orthopaedic surgical residency training, and additional fellowship training specifically for treating foot and ankle disorders.

As medical doctors, orthopaedic specialists consider the entirety of the musculoskeletal system and not just the extremity.