Question to general practitioner Maarten: Foot drop suffered after a hernia

Maarten Vasbinder lives in Isaan. His profession is general practitioner, a profession that he mainly practiced in Spain. On Thailandblog he answers questions from readers who live in Thailand and writes about medical facts.

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Dear Martin,

I suffered a drop foot (drop foot) after a hernia (editor: With a drop foot or drop foot, the forefoot cannot be lifted. Common causes are entrapment or damage to the spinal nerve). For that I now use a splint to keep the forefoot up. It works, but sometimes causes stumbling.

Now the surgeon at the Bangkok Hospital suggested fixing the ankle joint in the correct position by applying some sort of glue. He said it is an irreversible procedure. Now I've had that drop foot for 3 years without noticeable recovery, so that won't happen again. But are there any risks associated with such an intervention? Tissue death, blood flow, I'm just fantasizing.

What's your advice?

Regards,

K.

******

Specifications.

A drop foot can sometimes be more or less remedied by moving tendons. I don't know if that's a good idea in your case. That depends on your general condition. You have probably already had intensive physiotherapy.

I've never heard of fixation with glue, but I don't know everything either. I can't find anything about it in the literature. If you know a little more about that treatment, I'd love to hear about it.

Fixation with a kind of tape is possible. Can also be screwed on. If necessary, the screws can be removed again.

Whatever you do, normal walking will always be difficult, although in my experience it does get easier after fixation. There are also special shoes, but in this climate that does not seem ideal.

Sincerely,

Maarten