Foot and Ankle Arthroscopy

Foot and ankle arthroscopy is a “keyhole” surgery that lets doctors see inside your joint and fix problems using tiny tools.

Instead of a large cut, the surgeon makes a few small incisions and inserts a pencil‑thin camera (an arthroscope). The camera shows a magnified, real‑time view on a screen, so the surgeon can precisely work inside the joint.

Through other small portals, the surgeon can remove loose cartilage or bone fragments, smooth rough joint surfaces, shave bone spurs, release tight tissue, or treat inflamed lining (synovitis).

• In the ankle, arthroscopy is often used for issues like impingement (pinching pain at the front or back of the joint), osteochondral lesions (cartilage/bone damage on the talus), and loose bodies.
• Around the foot, similar techniques help address certain tendon sheath problems or small joint surfaces where precision matters.

Because it uses small instruments and a camera, arthroscopy allows detailed inspection and targeted treatment while preserving surrounding tissues. It’s mainly chosen when imaging and exam suggest a treatable problem inside the joint that benefits from direct visualization and delicate, controlled work.

Shorter wait times

When every step hurts, time matters. Instead of waiting months for consultation and OR time, private centres can often schedule arthroscopy within weeks—reducing time spent with locking, catching, impingement pain, or swelling, and helping you get back to daily life sooner.

Choice and control

Going private gives you more say in your care. You can:

• Choose a surgeon with high-volume foot/ankle arthroscopy experience.
• Select the clinic location (often out-of-province).
• Plan surgery around work, school, travel, or sport seasons.

Peace of mind

Patients value knowing exactly who will operate, when it will happen, and the detailed plan (scope targets, imaging, anesthesia approach, rehab milestones). Clear timelines ease anxiety and help families coordinate time off, support, and physiotherapy.

Preventing further decline

Function and quality of life: Limits months of pain, limping, swelling, and activity restrictions that disrupt work, school, and sleep.

Joint health: Ongoing impingement, loose bodies, or cartilage lesions can worsen stiffness and wear; earlier arthroscopy can address mechanical problems before they escalate.

Surgical complexity: Repeated inflammation and scar can make later procedures more extensive, with tougher rehab.

Mental load: Shortens time living with uncertainty, restricted activities, and persistent night pain.

1. ‍Confirm your diagnosis. Most patients start with a family doctor or specialist who confirms that foot and ankle arthroscopy is needed.
   ‍
2. Research. Explore surgeons who specialize in private foot and ankle arthroscopy.
   • You can find surgeons in Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montréal, Québec on our app, and review qualifications, as well as pricing.
     ‍‍
3. Schedule an initial consultation. Most surgeons offer in-clinic and online consults.
   
   • Consultations are usually booked within days or a few weeks.
   • Note: expect a consultation fee between $150 - $350.
     ‍‍
4. Consultation. The surgeon will review your condition, symptoms, and any previous treatments or diagnostics, such as x-rays or MRIs.
   ‍
5. ‍Post consultation. The surgeon will then review your case and provide surgical options based on your needs; review the risks and expected outcomes; and present pricing and scheduling options.
   
   • Because the procedure is not covered by your provincial health plan when done privately, you’ll need to review the quoted cost and consider payment options (out-of-pocket, private insurance, or financing).
     ‍‍
6. Schedule your surgery date. Once you confirm the procedure and payment, the clinic will schedule your surgery—generally within a few weeks.
   
   • Plan for travel and accommodation, since the surgery will likely take place outside your home province.
   • Expect pre-surgery preparation, and possibly some pre-surgery tests.

Most foot/ankle arthroscopies take about 45–90 minutes of operating time. Expect a few extra hours at the center for check‑in, anesthesia, and recovery before you go home.

Basic steps:

• Check‑in and marking: You meet the team, review the plan, and the surgeon marks the foot/ankle.
• Anesthesia: You’ll get general anesthesia (asleep) and/or a nerve block to numb the leg/foot afterward.
• Position and prep: Your leg is positioned, the skin is cleaned, and sterile drapes are placed.
• Tiny portals (small cuts): The surgeon makes 2–4 small incisions (about the size of a pencil eraser).
• Camera in: A pencil‑thin camera (arthroscope) goes through one portal and shows the inside on a screen.
• Fix the problem: Through other portals, tiny tools remove loose fragments, shave bone spurs, smooth cartilage, release tight tissue, or treat inflamed lining—whatever your joint needs (e.g., impingement, loose bodies, osteochondral lesions).
• Rinse and check: The joint is flushed with sterile fluid; motion and stability are re‑checked.
• Close up: The small cuts are closed with stitches or strips, then covered with a dressing; a light splint/boot may be applied.
• Wake‑up and instructions: You recover in the PACU, get home‑care instructions, and head home the same day.

Your plan comes from your surgical team and can vary. Take rehab seriously—the more consistent you are, the better your outcome. Some private clinics offer virtual follow‑ups or coordinate physio near home. In general, what to expect after foot or ankle arthroscopy:

Week 1

Reality check: pain, swelling, stiffness, awkward sleep. Not fun.

Goals: control pain/swelling, protect the scope sites, prevent blood clots.

Activities:

• elevate above heart most of the day
• ice (as allowed)
• wiggle toes/ankle pumps
• short assisted walks

You might be non‑weight‑bearing or partial weight—follow your surgeon. Keep dressings dry; take meds as directed. Have a helper for a few days.

Weeks 2–4

Still puffy but improving.

Goals: safe mobility and gentle range of motion (ROM).

Activities:

• stitch removal if needed
• boot or supportive shoe
• walk short distances with crutches/cane and lots of elevation breaks
• begin gentle ankle ROM (up/down, side‑to‑side, circles) and foot intrinsic exercises if cleared
• light daily tasks

Weeks 5–12

The work phase.

Goals: near‑full ROM, start strength, normalize walking pattern.

Activities:

• physio ramps up—calf/ankle strength,
• balance, hip/knee support, gait training
• progress from aids to independent walking as approved
• low‑impact cardio when cleared (bike, pool)

Weeks 13–52

Back to real‑world function.

Goals: full or near‑full ROM and strength; steady walking, stairs, and longer days on your feet.

Activities:

• progressive strengthening, single‑leg balance, agility/return‑to‑activity drills as appropriate
• desk work often sooner; heavy jobs take longer
• keep listening to your body and your physio

Red flags anytime: fever, worsening redness/drainage, calf pain/swelling, chest pain/shortness of breath, sudden severe ankle pain or numbness—contact your care team.

Foot and ankle arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery, however the costs are significant and very because of the potential complexity involved in certain instances. Private clinics in Canada typically charge $6,500 to $12,000.

In the United States, the average cost is CA$22,200.

Costs vary so much because of location, surgeon experience, facility type, scope of potential treatments, complexity of the issue, and included services (some clinics offer all-inclusive, while others charge separately for anesthesia, followup care, etc.).

What’s included

• Surgeon fee (and assistant if used) and anesthesiologist/general anesthesia
• Facility fees (OR time, nursing, supplies, arthroscopy equipment)
• Standard arthroscopy disposables (scopes, cannulas, routine anchors if bundled—varies by clinic)
• Immediate post‑op recovery and routine early follow‑ups
• Basic post‑op boot/brace and standard dressings (varies)

What’s usually not included

• Pre-op imaging (X‑rays, MRI/CT), lab work, and extra specialist consults
• Travel and accommodation (if surgery is out‑of‑province/state)
• Long‑term physiotherapy after the initial session(s)
• Prescription medications after discharge
• Additional implants/anchors beyond “standard,” biologics (PRP/BMAC), or unexpected add‑on procedures

Insurance and financing options

• Private health insurance: Some plans may cover part of the costs, such as hospital fees. It’s important to check your policy directly.
• Financing plans: Many clinics offer monthly payment options to help spread out the cost. Learn more about your financing options here.‍
• Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC): This is a non-refundable credit that reduces your taxes when you pay out-of-pocket for eligible medical expenses. Learn more about how to claim METC for private surgeries.

Choosing your surgeon is one of the benefits of going the private route. Here’s what to consider and the key questions to bring to your foot orankle arthroscopy consultation.

What to look for

• Experience and volume
  • Ask how many foot or ankle arthroscopies they perform each year and their mix (diagnostic arthroscopy, debridement/osteophyte removal, synovectomy, microfracture for osteochondral lesions (OLT/OCD), ligament/tendon work, impingement, loose body removal).
• Credentials and training
  • Confirm licensure with the provincial college (e.g., CPSO in Ontario, CPSBC in BC, CPSA in Alberta).
  • Look for FRCSC-certified orthopaedic surgeons with fellowship training in foot & ankle or sports/ankle reconstruction.
• Safety
  • Ask about infection rates, unplanned returns, stiffness rates, return‑to‑sport timelines.
• Technique and anesthesia
  
  • Portal strategy and what procedures are anticipated for you (debridement, microfracture, loose body removal, anterior/posterior impingement, ligament smoothing/repair).
  • If cartilage work is planned: microfracture vs drilling vs adjuncts; when they consider biologics (PRP/BMAC) or osteochondral grafting.
  • For instability: whether arthroscopy is combined with Broström/ligament repair and how that changes rehab and cost.
• Facility accreditation‍
  
  • Make sure the clinic is accredited by national bodies such as Accreditation Canada or the Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (CAAASF).‍
• Rehab integration‍
  
  • Access to foot and ankle savvy physiotherapy, clear phased protocol, and communication with your local therapist if you’re traveling.

Questions to ask during your foot and ankle arthroscopy consultation

Surgeon and surgery plan

• How many foot/ankle arthroscopies do you perform yearly and for my specific condition?
• What are your infection, DVT, nerve‑injury, stiffness, and unplanned re‑op rates in the last 12–24 months?
• Which procedures do you expect to perform for me (debridement, microfracture, loose body removal, ligament work)? What are the trade‑offs and success rates?
• If intra‑op findings differ (e.g., larger OLT, more impingement), what additional steps might you take and how would that change recovery and cost?
• What anesthesia do you recommend (regional block + sedation vs general), and what is your pain‑control plan (nerve block duration, multimodal meds)
• Setting and dischargeIs this same‑day outpatient? Any chance of an overnight stay? What criteria decide that?

Recovery and aftercare

• What’s my timeline to: partial and full weight‑bearing, out of the boot, driving, desk work vs manual work, low‑impact cardio, running/cutting/jumping
• Range‑of‑motion expectations and short‑term movement limits (e.g., after microfracture).
• What red flags would trigger a call/ER visit (fever, wound drainage, escalating pain/swelling, calf pain, shortness of breath, new numbness).
• Who is my post‑op contact (direct phone/email), typical response time, number/timing of follow‑ups included?

Costs and logistics

• What exactly is included in my quote (surgeon, anesthesiologist, facility fees, standard disposables, anchors if needed, nerve block, boot/brace, immediate post‑op care, scheduled follow‑ups)?
• What could add cost (longer OR time, microfracture tools, additional implants/anchors, biologics like PRP/BMAC, unexpected imaging, braces, complications)?
• How do you handle pricing/consent if you need to do additional procedures once you’re in the joint?
• If I’m traveling from another province, which follow‑ups can be virtual?