Bunion Surgery: Orthopedic Surgeon vs. Podiatrist

[JAshley]

My mom is scheduled to have a bunionectomy performed by a podiatrist in a couple of weeks.  Her feet have been hurting her badly for 25 years.  Recently, an orthopedic surgeon has warned against having a podiatrist perform the surgery.  It is obvious that she needs the surgery - but is there an advantage to having an orthopedic surgeon do the operation?  I am getting mixed opinions from medical doctors.

[DrPalmer]

Orthopedic Surgeon vs. Podiatrist; totally depends on the physician . If the orthopedist has not done a foot and ankle fellowship usually but always not a good choice. The podiatrist should be board certified by the American Board of Podiatry Surgeons; no others are a true surgical board.  In my area (Portland, Oregon) there are a number of fine orthopedic surgeons that have specialized training in the foot, as well as excellent trained podiatrists. It is interesting that those orthopedist and podiatrist that have better levels of training get along quite well with each other while those who do not argue and fight. If the some holds true in your area, I would question the orthopedists credentials who made the comment.

Thomas R. Palmer, D.P.M.