Clinical and Radiological Examination of the Foot and Ankle

Book excerpt: The foot and ankle are among the most complicated anatomical regions of the human body, making their examination challenging. The perfect equilibrium between bones, tendons, ligaments, and other anatomical structures can be disturbed by pathological processes leading to complex disorders. The path to definitive diagnosis passes through a comprehensive clinical and radiological examination. However, the sources focusing on examining the foot and ankle pathologies are limited. Hence, this book aims to cover all aspects of clinical and radiological examination of the foot and ankle, including basics, general approach, and a closer look at the different foot and ankle pathologies. It will include the most up-to-date diagnostic methods, special tests, and radiological evaluations and give clues about the various situations that should be considered before going into surgery. With a broad range of clinical and radiological images, the path to diagnosis gets simpler! Chapters provide a systematic approach to evaluating various foot and ankle problems such as instabilities, tendinopathies, deformities, trauma, neuropathies, cartilage disorders, impingement, heel pain, etc. Moreover, it includes a chapter emphasizing the emerging technologies used for more precise clinical evaluation. This book will aid foot & ankle surgeons, podiatrists, and general orthopedic surgeons in understanding clinical and radiological examination for improved diagnosis, as well as fellows, residents, and medical students interested in foot and ankle pathologies.