When arthritis, wear and tear, or the injury of your feet or ankles prevent you from getting out and being active, you need somewhere to turn. That’s where our Foot and Ankle specialist, Dr. Christopher Kestner comes in. Dr. Kestner is a board-certified, fellowship-trained Orthopaedic surgeon and has been specializing entirely in foot and ankle issues for nearly 10 years. His goal is to work closely with you to develop a specific treatment plan to keep you at your best and as pain-free as possible.

Contrary to popular belief, a bunion is not a growth or “bump” of bone in the big toe. It is actually an angulation of the joint, which can lead to pain, irritation, and even arthritis. In general, it is recommended to treat bunions without surgery as long as they are minimally painful. If a bunion becomes more severe, it is surgically correctable but it involves a substantial procedure where the bone must be cut and realigned. This surgery generally requires a few to several weeks of not bearing any weight on the affected foot. Bunion surgery can be immensely successful but must be chosen only after careful consideration.

Dr. Kestner utilizes state of the art technology and methods to properly address all patients’ needs, notably, improving the lifestyle of his patients through bunion correction with the help of Treace Medical Concepts. To learn more about Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction and how it can improve your lifestyle, see for yourself here.

Ankle fractures or broken ankles are one of the most common orthopaedic injuries. They usually result from falls, twisted ankles, or sports injuries. Many times, what is thought of as just a simple ankle sprain can actually be a subtle fracture. The only way to know for sure is with an X-ray. Most, but not all ankle fractures usually require surgical fixation. Newer techniques and implants allow for early movement and possibly quicker weight bearing. If you have injured your ankle and are having difficulty walking, don’t wait — schedule an appointment at our X-ray center in Charleston, SC, as soon as possible.

Ruptures of the Achilles tendon are significant injuries. The Achilles is responsible for providing our “push off” strength when walking, running, or jumping. Ruptures usually occur during sporting activities and often feel like “someone stepped on the back of my heel” or “someone hit me in the back of my leg” and can often be heard as a loud snap or even a gunshot. Achilles ruptures can be treated with or without surgery, depending on many factors. The key is to seek medical assistance as quickly as possible, as success will depend on how quickly treatment can be started. Fortunately, newer surgical techniques allow for the repair to be completed through an incision less than an inch in length.