Physicians- What do you think about podiatry?

[Mum]

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Thank you!

 

[EthylMethylMan]

Before I worked with podiatrists, I had no idea what they did. I kinda imagined they clipped toenails and gave advice about shoes. Then I actually started working with them and learned what their actual scope of practice is. I think they fill a good niche, though I’m not sure how they compare with orthopods when it comes to foot surgeries. I also think it’s kinda nuts that some people don’t consider them physicians. They do surgeries, I feel like that kinda seals the deal.

 

[DocWinter]

They're in the mix with chiropractors.
Kinda sorta doctors. Not doctor doctors.

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

Well on my first rotation, a podiatrist didn’t catch pretty clear case of cellulitis in a diabetic patient

He told the patient to take aspirin and stay off of it for a day or two.

Of course this was probably just a coincidence but not a great impression as a I thought somebody who worked with feet all day would be an expert

 

[Mum]

They're in the mix with chiropractors.
Kinda sorta doctors. Not doctor doctors.

Wouldn't you say podiatrists use evidence based medicine as opposed to pseudo like chiro?

 

[EthylMethylMan]

They're in the mix with chiropractors.
Kinda sorta doctors. Not doctor doctors.

I dunno about that. Podiatrists at least do actual medicine, regardless of how one feels about their average skill level. Chiropractic is straight-up woo-woo nonsense.

 

[LucidSplash]

As vascular, I think podiatrists who do hospital-based work are worth their weight in gold. I can do foot surgery to a certain degree but I am not ashamed to say they do it better. They are also immensely important to the diabetic population with foot issues to help them keep their toes and feet. Full contact casting, etc are things I definitely do not know how to do but which many of my patients need.

As someone said above, like all medical professionals, some are better than others. So yes I have seen them miss vascular disease at times. But that seems to happen more to the variety that doesn’t do much actual foot surgery and doesn’t do any inpatient work.

I am much more satisfied in any job when I have good podiatrists to work with and I think my limb salvage rates are better when I do.

 

[LucidSplash]

Before I worked with podiatrists, I had no idea what they did. I kinda imagined they clipped toenails and gave advice about shoes. Then I actually started working with them and learned what their actual scope of practice is. I think they fill a good niche, though I’m not sure how they compare with orthopods when it comes to foot surgeries. I also think it’s kinda nuts that some people don’t consider them physicians. They do surgeries, I feel like that kinda seals the deal.

I can’t get most orthopods to do the kind of work that podiatrists do, even when the patients have no vascular disease. I think orthopods are capable of doing surgery for diabetic toes and such, but honestly most just don’t want to. Likewise I often struggle to find an orthopedic surgeon who will do a BKA or AKA for a young functional patient without vascular disease. Many will often cite “not feeling comfortable” with amps. I do these procedures but I am not ashamed to admit that my patient population is different and I was not trained in things like adductor myodesis, as most of my patients would not benefit from it.

So it’s hard to compare podiatry foot work to orthopedic foot work because the reality is it is hard to find an orthopedic surgeon willing to get involved in these cases.

 

[Mum]

I can’t get most orthopods to do the kind of work that podiatrists do, even when the patients have no vascular disease. I think orthopods are capable of doing surgery for diabetic toes and such, but honestly most just don’t want to. Likewise I often struggle to find an orthopedic surgeon who will do a BKA or AKA for a young functional patient without vascular disease. Many will often cite “not feeling comfortable” with amps. I do these procedures but I am not ashamed to admit that my patient population is different and I was not trained in things like adductor myodesis, as most of my patients would not benefit from it.

So it’s hard to compare podiatry foot work to orthopedic foot work because the reality is it is hard to find an orthopedic surgeon willing to get involved in these cases.

Thanks for the contribution!