Dr. Hanson specializes in minimally invasive surgical techniques for select foot and ankle conditions, offering active patients reduced postoperative pain and a faster return to the activities they love.
Traditional open foot and ankle surgery requires larger incisions to give the surgeon full visual and physical access to the operative site. This approach has been the standard for decades and remains appropriate for many conditions.
Minimally invasive surgery achieves the same surgical goals through much smaller incisions, often just a few millimeters, using specialized instruments and real-time imaging to guide the procedure. Less disruption to the surrounding soft tissue means the body has less to heal, and patients typically experience less postoperative pain, reduced swelling, and a faster recovery compared to traditional open techniques.
Not every patient or every condition is a candidate for a minimally invasive approach. Dr. Hanson will give you an honest assessment of whether it is the right option for your specific situation.
Traditional Open Surgery
Minimally Invasive
Bunion surgery has changed significantly in recent years. Traditional open bunion correction often involves longer, multiple incisions, cutting and repositioning the bone, and a prolonged recovery that can keep patients off their feet for weeks.
Minimally invasive bunion correction achieves the same realignment of the big toe joint through incisions measured in millimeters rather than centimeters. Specialized instruments and fluoroscopic imaging guide the procedure precisely, without the extensive soft tissue disruption of the open approach.
For appropriate candidates, minimally invasive bunion correction offers reduced postoperative swelling, less pain in the early recovery period, and in many cases a faster return to normal footwear and daily activity. It is one of the most searched and most requested procedures in elective foot surgery today, and not all foot and ankle surgeons are trained to perform it.
Dr. Hanson performs minimally invasive bunion correction for carefully selected patients and will evaluate your specific anatomy, degree of deformity, and activity goals to determine whether you are a good candidate.
Learn more about bunion treatment →Approach
Percutaneous instrumentation with fluoroscopic guidance
Incision Size
Millimeters, not centimeters
Candidate Evaluation
Anatomy, deformity severity, and activity goals
Availability
Not all foot and ankle surgeons are trained in this technique
The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body and one of the most commonly injured. Dr. Hanson treats the full spectrum of Achilles conditions, from degenerative tendinopathy to acute ruptures.
Achilles Tendon Ruptures: When surgery is indicated, minimally invasive repair allows the tendon to be repaired through small incisions rather than the traditional open approach. Smaller incisions mean less disruption to surrounding tissue and blood supply, a lower risk of wound complications, and typically a faster progression through the early phases of recovery.
Insertional Achilles Tendonitis: Involves painful degeneration where the tendon attaches to the heel bone, often accompanied by a bone spur. Treatment ranges from physical therapy and orthotics to surgical debridement when conservative care fails.
Achilles Tendinosis: A chronic degenerative condition of the tendon midsubstance, typically managed with structured rehabilitation, activity modification, and in select cases, surgical debridement of diseased tissue.
Dr. Hanson will evaluate your specific condition and activity goals to determine whether a minimally invasive or traditional approach is appropriate for you.
A ruptured Achilles tendon is a serious injury, and the decision between surgical and non-surgical management should be made thoughtfully with a surgeon experienced in both.
When surgery is indicated, minimally invasive Achilles repair allows the tendon to be repaired through small incisions rather than the traditional open approach, which requires a longer incision along the back of the leg. Smaller incisions mean less disruption to the surrounding tissue and blood supply, a lower risk of wound complications, and typically a faster progression through the early phases of recovery.
Dr. Hanson will evaluate your injury, your activity level, your age, and your recovery goals to determine whether a minimally invasive approach is appropriate for you.
Learn more about Achilles tendon treatment →Approach
Small incisions with specialized repair instrumentation
Advantage
Reduced wound complication risk vs. open technique
Candidate Evaluation
Injury pattern, activity level, age, and recovery goals
Many foot and ankle fractures that once required open surgery can now be stabilized using percutaneous fixation techniques, where screws, pins, or plates are placed through very small incisions guided by real-time imaging rather than a large open exposure.
Percutaneous fixation minimizes soft tissue trauma, reduces the risk of wound complications, and in the right patient can accelerate the return to weight bearing and activity. Not every fracture pattern is suited to a percutaneous approach. Dr. Hanson will review your imaging and discuss the most appropriate fixation strategy for your specific injury.
Learn more about fracture treatment →Approach
Percutaneous screw or plate fixation under fluoroscopic guidance
Advantage
Minimal soft tissue trauma, faster weight-bearing progression
Candidate Evaluation
Fracture pattern and imaging review required
Minimally invasive techniques are not appropriate for every patient or every procedure. Factors including the severity and complexity of your condition, your bone quality, your overall health, and your activity goals all influence whether a minimally invasive approach is the right choice.
If you have been told you need foot or ankle surgery and want to know whether a minimally invasive option exists for your condition, a consultation with Dr. Hanson will give you a clear answer. Many patients arrive having been offered only a traditional open approach, without knowing that an alternative may be available.
Factors Dr. Hanson Evaluates
If you have been advised to undergo traditional open surgery and want to know whether a minimally invasive approach may be available for your condition, Dr. Hanson offers focused second opinion consultations. Many patients discover options that were not part of their original recommendation.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Hanson to find out whether minimally invasive surgery is right for you.
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