About Our Practice
Our podiatry practice was established in the New York area by Dr. Fred DeLucia and Dr. Joseph Alencherry to provide the best in surgical and non-surgical treatments affecting the foot and ankle. All our podiatric surgeons are extensively trained in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions of the lower leg and foot. They are surgically trained in advanced reconstructive foot and ankle surgery having completed rigorous four-year residency training at New York Hospital of Queens.
FAASNY’s Philosophy
Our practice philosophy is to examine patients on the whole rather than simply from the ankle downward. Many diseases first present themselves in the lower extremities, just as they may also in the later stages. A specialist, therefore, must always be able to think like a generalist…while still being a specialist.
We are a group of professional, empathic and interested practitioners who specialize in all conditions of the lower extremity within an inviting and brand new state of the art office setting. Our office staff is cheerful, up to date and eager to assist you in all of your needs outside of the exam room.
What Conditions Do We Treat?
We treat conditions such as heel pain from spurs and plantar fasciitis, arch pain, bunions, hammertoes, and sprains of the foot and ankle. We provide custom orthotics and shoes. We also specialize in surgical and non-surgical treatment of diabetic problems affecting the foot including diabetic neuropathy and ulcers.
Finding The Best Foot Surgeon in NYC
Our office location in Long Island is only a short distance from the communities of Lake Success, Lake Success, Mineola, Garden City, Floral Park, Bellerose, Port Washington, Great Neck, and other towns of Nassau County. The offices in New York City are only a few steps from the West 4th subway station West Village and the Columbus Circle subway station in Midtown.
Dr. Joseph Alencherry
Dr. Alencherry graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology and Concentration in Applied Economics & Management. He earned his medical degree in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine in New York City. He continued his education with a four-year Residency at the New York Hospital Queens, where he was appointed Chief Resident in his final year.
He has comprehensive training in elective, reconstructive and trauma surgery of the foot and ankle. He also is trained in the most advanced non-surgical and minimally invasive treatments of common foot and ankle conditions. He has an interest in treating the pediatric population and has experience treating congenital deformities. In addition, he has completed several courses and has received training in external fixation and deformity correction techniques at the Ilizarov Institute in Russia.
He is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He is a Fellow of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Orthopedics and Medicine and of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
He is an active committee member for the New York State Podiatric Medical Association and a proud member of the American Podiatric Medical Association. He serves as the Director of Clerkships for the Podiatric Surgery and Medicine Residency program at New York Presbyterian/Queens Hospital. He is also affiliated with Northshore University Hospital, Long Island Jewish Hospital, Lenox Hill Hospital, and is actively involved with their Residency programs.
Can a Podiatrist Perform Surgery?
Our podiatric surgeons specialize in adult and pediatric lower extremity:
- Reconstruction and Trauma
- Painful flat-feet (pes planus), painful high-arched feet (pes cavus)
- Congenital and Acquired deformities (soft tissue and bone)
- Osteoarthritis of the foot and ankle
- Complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Osteomyelitis and soft tissue infections
- Foreign bodies and puncture wounds
- Joint replacement surgery
- Plastic surgery techniques
- Arthroscopic surgery
- Sports injury surgery
- Ankle instability
- Tendon tears and ruptures
- Charcot neuroarthropathy reconstruction
- Diabetic limb salvage procedures (wounds, ulcers, infections)
- Common conditions such as bunions and hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, neuromas, and skin lesions.
Preparing For Foot Surgery – Best Foot Surgeon in NYC
Patients that require orthopedic surgery on their feet have a multitude of different needs for their specific condition. The initial degree of preparation for your surgery likely depends upon the severity of the issue at hand. Yet, there exist general guidelines that anyone who is about to undergo foot surgery can benefit from. Ensuring that you are fully prepared for the surgery itself, along with your daily life after the surgery, is crucial in promoting a healthy recovery process. If you are looking for the best foot surgeon in NYC, Foot and Ankle Surgeons of New York are here to provide your orthopedic needs.
Preparing Around The House
If you live alone, you will need to prepare your home to be more accessible for yourself while you recover from surgery. If your bedroom is upstairs, consider making a bed on the main floor of your home, and gather everything else you may need. Doing so will allow you to minimize your efforts moving around while allowing you to engage in optimal rest time. You’ll also want to fill your home with all the essential items that you may require after foot surgery.
Remember, you’ll want to prevent yourself from having to leave the house as much as possible. It’s also imperative that you make premeditated plans for meals. Try having them ready to heat up so that you will not have to stand and cook for a prolonged period. Make sure that you have all necessary items at your close reach, limiting the number of times that you will be forced to stand up on your feet.
Dressing After Surgery
For dressing yourself after foot surgery, you’ll want to prepare soft, loose clothing that is easy to take on and off. Aggravating your foot by dressing and undressing and can be a frustrating occurrence. Look to wear suitable clothing such as sweatpants for the next couple of weeks. It is also best to have a few changes of clothes right at your disposal so that you will not have to travel far. At FAASNY, our best foot surgeon in NYC will help you to be as comfortable as possible after surgery.
Avoid Driving After Surgery
After foot surgery, you’ll need to arrange for someone to pick you up to take you home as you will be unable to drive during recovery. Should the need arise for you to leave the house, have someone take you to your destination. It is discouraged to be in a car a week or two after surgery because you will be unable to elevate your foot above heart level as properly instructed.
What To Expect The Day Of The Surgery
On the day of the foot surgery, you should have all nail polish or jewelry removed and remember to wear loose, comfortable clothing. Make sure to arrive early, about two hours, to allow an ample amount of time to fill out forms and make other preparations. Your doctor will administer anesthesia before the surgery, and make sure you are comfortable before beginning. The length of the surgery will depend on what exactly is being treated.
How long before I can walk after surgery?
Around two weeks after your surgery, your doctor will remove the cast or splint and apply a new non-removable cast. This will stay on for about a month or six weeks. While wearing the new cast, you should be able to walk or bear weight on the foot with the help of crutches or a walker.
How long will my ankle or foot be swollen after surgery?
Throughout the initial six weeks post surgery, the swelling will often increase. After that though, over time the swelling will begin to go down. Depending on how severe your injury was or the nature of the surgery, it may take up to a full year for the swelling to completely go away.
For how long should I be elevating my leg after surgery?
Most doctors will recommend that during the recovery process you elevate your leg for about a half an hour every two hours. This will help if you notice a high amount of swelling or pain. As time goes on you can elevate your leg on an as-needed basis.
Recent Blog Posts
Heel Bone Fractures
Fractures of the heel bone can lead to an abundance of complications for the patient. In the majority of cases, immediate treatment from a foot/ankle specialist will be required to treat this severe injury.
ABOUT THE HEEL BONE
The foot is made up of three main parts: the midfoot, hindfoot, and forefoot. The calcaneus, or heel bone, is located in the hindfoot. It is located beneath three bones that make up the ankle joint: tibia, fibula, and talus. The heel bone and the talus make up what is called the subtalar joint. This joint allows for sideways movement of the hindfoot and promotes balance on uneven surfaces.
FRACTURES
Although uncommon, fractures of the calcaneus can occur. Only 2% of all adult fractures are of tarsal bones, and only about half of those are calcaneus fractures. There are several ways that the calcaneus can become fractured. Common catalysts may include the following:
- Twisting injury.
- Motor vehicle accident.
- Fall from an elevated surface.
The severity of calcaneus fractures can vary depending on the way the injury is sustained. For example, the force of a car accident can result in the complete shattering of the bone, while a minor twist may only lead to a small crack in the bone. The greater the impact, the greater the damage to the calcaneus. For minor fractures, walking may still be possible with a limp. However, for a more major fracture, the calcaneus may become deformed from the injury.
If you are unsure if your heel bone is fractured, here are some symptoms to look out for:
- Swelling.
- Bruising.
- Pain.
- Deformity of the heel.
- Difficulty walking.
- Difficulty putting weight upon the foot.
WHAT CAN AN ANKLE SURGEON DO?
Because you do so much with your feet, a fracture to the heel bone is a very serious injury. If you suspect that your calcaneus is fractured, it is important to seek out the help of an ankle surgeon. Upon discussing and assessing your symptoms, an ankle surgeon will be able to:
- Examine the movement and feeling of the toes and feet.
- Assess pulse in all areas of the foot to ensure sufficient blood flow.
- Search for potential injuries in other areas of the body.
Additionally, to properly diagnose a calcaneus fracture an ankle surgeon may perform an X-ray or a CT scan. Following the diagnosis of a calcaneus fracture via X-ray, an ankle surgeon will likely still order a CT scan due to the complexity of the bone. The CT scan will allow for a more detailed view of the foot and better assess the severity of the fracture.
After diagnosing the injury, there are several routes an ankle surgeon can take when it comes to treatment. For more minor injuries, the surgeon may recommend non-surgical treatment. Particularly, if pieces of the bone have not been displaced or broken, non-surgical treatment is a better option. The most commonly performed non-surgical treatment is immobilization. For this procedure, the surgeon will place a cast on the foot for 6 to 8 weeks in order to hold the bones in the foot in place while they heal.
For surgical treatment, there are more options available. Among these treatments include:
- Open reduction and internal fixation – During this procedure, the surgeon will make an incision in order to reposition bones to their normal alignment, using wires, metal plates, or screws.
- Percutaneous screw fixation – For this procedure, only smaller incisions are required. The surgeon will place small screws into the incisions in order to hold the fracture together.
Heel bone fractures are no laughing matter. Regardless of the corrective procedure performed by an ankle surgeon, the recovery time is quite long. For minor injuries and procedures, the recovery time can last about 3 to 4 months, while for worse injuries it can take up to 1 to 2 years to fully recover. That’s why you want to make sure to see the best ankle surgeon available to you. At FAASNY, our skilled ankle professionals will ensure you are under the best care possible. We will assess your injury and perform the procedure that is right for you. Don’t wait, contact us today!
Preparing For Foot Surgery
ORTHOPEDIC FOOT SURGERY
Patients that require orthopedic surgery on their feet have a multitude of different needs for their specific condition. The initial degree of preparation for your surgery likely depends upon the severity of the issue at hand. Yet, there exist general guidelines that anyone who is about to undergo foot surgery can benefit from. Ensuring that you are fully prepared for the surgery itself, along with your daily life after the surgery, is crucial in promoting a healthy recovery process. If you are looking for the best foot surgeon in NYC, Foot and Ankle Surgeons of New York are here to provide your orthopedic needs.
PREPARING AROUND THE HOUSE
If you live alone, you will need to prepare your home to be more accessible for yourself while you recover from surgery. If your bedroom is upstairs, consider making a bed on the main floor of your home, and gather everything else you may need. Doing so will allow you to minimize your efforts moving around while allowing you to engage in optimal rest time. You’ll also want to fill your home with all the essential items that you may require after foot surgery.
Remember, you’ll want to prevent yourself from having to leave the house as much as possible. It’s also imperative that you make premeditated plans for meals. Try having them ready to heat up so that you will not have to stand and cook for a prolonged period. Make sure that you have all necessary items at your close reach, limiting the number of times that you will be forced to stand up on your feet.
DRESSING AFTER SURGERY
For dressing yourself after foot surgery, you’ll want to prepare soft, loose clothing that is easy to take on and off. Aggravating your foot by dressing and undressing and can be a frustrating occurrence. Look to wear suitable clothing such as sweatpants for the next couple of weeks. It is also best to have a few changes of clothes right at your disposal so that you will not have to travel far. At FAASNY, our best foot surgeon in NYC will help you to be as comfortable as possible after surgery.
AVOID DRIVING AFTER SURGERY
After foot surgery, you’ll need to arrange for someone to pick you up to take you home as you will be unable to drive during recovery. Should the need arise for you to leave the house, have someone take you to your destination. It is discouraged to be in a car a week or two after surgery because you will be unable to elevate your foot above heart level as properly instructed.
WHAT TO EXPECT THE DAY OF THE SURGERY
On the day of the foot surgery, you should have all nail polish or jewelry removed and remember to wear loose, comfortable clothing. Make sure to arrive early, about two hours, to allow an ample amount of time to fill out forms and make other preparations. Your doctor will administer anesthesia before the surgery, and make sure you are comfortable before beginning. The length of the surgery will depend on what exactly is being treated.
Best Foot Surgeon in NYC
When you are undergoing foot surgery, you want to make sure you are being treated by the best of the best. If you are seeking the best foot surgeon in NYC, FAASNY can help. We have very experienced and knowledgeable doctors that will ensure you are treated with the utmost care. Contact us today if you want to be treated by the best foot surgeon in NYC!
Contact FAASNY Today
When you are undergoing foot surgery, you want to make sure you are being treated by the best of the best. If you are seeking the best foot surgeon in NYC, FAASNY can help. We have very experienced and knowledgeable doctors that will ensure you are treated with the utmost care. Contact us today if you want to be treated by the best foot surgeon in NYC!