Key cryosurgery facts you must know

When considering any type of surgery we would advise all patients to consider whether their prospective surgeon and premises can meet all of the following important considerations. At The London Podiatry Centre, we strive to offer our patients exceptional surgical treatment and complete peace of mind.

What surgical training, experience and substantive surgical consultant posts held does your surgeon have?

Ron McCulloch is a Consultant Podiatric Surgeon with over 20 years of practical surgical experience. This means that he is qualified, certified and professionally indorsed to carry out a full range of foot and ankle surgery. Ron has lead the Podiatric Surgery department of Homerton NHS hospital for 10 years. In his time there he has trained fellow Podiatric Surgeons, Orthopedic surgeons in foot and ankle surgery and lectured extensively on foot and ankle pathology. When the Olympics came to town in 2012, Ron was called upon to offer his valued expertise to the world's athletes at the Olympic village.

What assurances can be given following surgery if there were to be a complication?

Whilst the incidence of complication is very low as demonstrated by our audit, no surgery is entirely risk free. Patients will be reassured that Ron McCulloch has admitting rights to a number of hospitals should further post-operative medical admission be required.

What assurances can be given about the clinic where treatment takes place?

The London Podiatry Centre is a CQC (Care Quality Commission) approved and regulated surgical clinic. The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care in England and are set up to monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and to publish their findings, including performance ratings to help people choose care. CQC set out what good and outstanding care looks like and make sure services meet fundamental standards, below which care must never fall.

You can read the CQC's latest audit report, published following their extemporaneous checks on provider services at The London Podiatry Centre.

What are the major causes of reoccurrence of foot related pathology and how can these be mitigated?

Certain foot conditions, Morton's neuroma being a notable example, are caused through a bio-mechanical deficiency and have a moderate to high risk of recurrence when the bio-mechanical causes are not properly diagnosed and addressed. With Europe's most sophisticated, dedicated podiatric gait analysis facility, also trusted by Premiership Football Clubs and elite athletes for over 20 years, we can accurately diagnose the functional cause and treat this in conjunction with the neuroma treatment with cryosurgery. To treat the symptom and not the cause is often a false economy. It is extensively recognized by specialist practitioners that you must treat the bio-mechanics when treating Morton's neuroma.

What evidence do you have that a consultant specialises in the surgical treatment that you need?

Ron McCulloch qualified as a Podiatric Surgeon in 2001 following principal roles at Guys & St Thomas's, Lewisham and Homerton University Hospitals. Ron was appointed with the title Consultant Podiatric Surgeon in 2006.

To give some further context to the title 'Consultant' and what that means exactly please see the Wikipedia article on the subject.

Ron added the surgical techniques required for cryosurgery to his skill base in 2011 following study under Professor Peter Wishnie in the United States and has refined these the surgical techniques ever since.

Ron lectures and trains practitioners at Bournemouth University, Centre for Ultrasound Studies, in the use of diagnostic ultrasound. Expertise in ultrasound is invaluable for correct diagnosis of foot pathology and is crucial to providing Cryosurgery for Morton's neuroma. Ron holds an Masters Degree in Medical Ultrasound.

What evidence do you have for the success of the surgical treatment you need?

The London Podiatry Centre uses the Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) to audit the results of our surgical procedures including cryosurgery for Morton's neuroma. Validated for use in studies assessing outcomes following foot and/or ankle corrective surgery The MOXFQ allows us to provide clinically substantiated results for study and publication. We spend copious amounts of time obtaining clinically validated surgical data so our success rates are fully accurate and corroborated.

What if cryosurgery for Morton's neuroma is not the treatment that I need?

Through definitive diagnosis and a full range of treatments for literally all foot and ankle ailment or injury you can be assured that you will receive expert consultation and the relevant treatment regardless of your condition. Often a previous misdiagnosis can lead patients to seek out cryosurgery. This is never a problem at The London Podiatry Centre as all foot related pathology is treated from conservative care through to full surgical management.

What do medical insurance companies have to say regarding who should be in charge of your surgical management?

Ron and The London Podiatry Centre are recognized by all major UK medical insurance providers and many International providers.

Whilst stipulation may vary among providers it is customary for medical insurance providers to only accept the following criteria for professional recognition in Podiatric surgery:

• be a Fellow in Surgery of the College of Podiatrists (FC Pod (S))
• hold/have held a substantive post as a consultant podiatrist or consultant in podiatric surgery in the NHS
• be on the approved list of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists
• have a practice that is not subject to any special conditions or restrictions, and that is not subject to any requirements for supervision or further training
• be fully registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• have current professional indemnity insurance for the treatments you provide.

Source: AXA PPP
Source: Bupa