April is National Foot Health Awareness Month, and on this month's episode of Hadassah On Call, we're talking to Dr. Yechiel Gellman, senior foot and ankle surgeon at the Hadassah Medical Organization. Dr. Yechiel Gellman shares his perspectives on the evolving landscape of foot and ankle surgery, emphasizing the importance of patient education, collaboration and staying updated with technological advancements.

Dr. Gellman provides an overview of standard foot and ankle issues, such as fractures, deformities, chronic conditions like equinus contracture, acute infections and diabetic foot ulcers. Is foot health only crucial if you are diabetic? Are there new treatments that can save a patient from amputation? He delves into various treatment options, including total ankle replacement as an alternative to ankle fusion, minimally invasive surgical techniques and the use of scopes for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. According to Dr. Gellman, total ankle replacement can preserve motion, take the load off the adjacent joints and allow people much faster rehabilitation.

However, he also shares that non-surgical treatments can be an option, including medications, injections, orthotics and physical therapy to manage foot and ankle conditions.

"When treating a condition, I would usually say there are two options: you can either fit the foot to the shoe or the shoe to fit the foot," Dr. Gellman says.

He also emphasizes the significance of preventative foot care in avoiding complications.

Finally, the conversation concludes with insights into the future of foot and ankle surgery, focusing on advancements in biological treatments, regenerative medicine and better diagnostic tools, all of which are being used at Hadassah.

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"Hadassah On Call: New Frontiers in Medicine" is a production of Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America. Hadassah enhances the health of people around the world through medical education, care and research innovations at the Hadassah Medical Organization. For more information on the latest advances in medicine please head over to hadassah.org.

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The show is hosted by Maayan Hoffman and produced by the team at the Hadassah offices in both New York and Israel.

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Our recent episode with Dr. Dvora Bauman
‍If you are enjoying this episode, you’ll want to check out our previous episode with Dr. Dvora Bauman, director of the Bat Ami Center for Victims of Sexual Abuse. She sheds light on the pressing issue of sexual violence stemming from the October 7 Hamas massacre in Israel, its implications and the challenges ahead.

You can find that episode of Hadassah On Call on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or wherever you get your podcast. Or on the web at hadassah.org/hadassahoncall.

Hadassah's Virtual Programming
‍Have you checked out Hadassah's virtual programming? If you're looking for engaging, entertaining and informative programming, Hadassah is here for you. Throughout the year, Hadassah presents outstanding online programming open to everyone, featuring top-tier speakers and panels. It's a great way to stay connected with us. Some of our most recent programs include the taping of our first in-person event of our widely popular national online book series, One Book, One Hadassah, an insightful conversation on how we can safeguard Jewish students on campus and a discussion about what makes a book Jewish. Check out more about our virtual programming at https://go.hadassah.org/programming.