Clinical Examination of the Foot and Ankle (Basic and Surface Anatomy) with Special Tests

The objective of this chapter is to help establish a methodical approach to foot and ankle examination that is reproducible and specific to patients’ complaints. The examination starts from the moment the patient walks into your consultation room and should be tailored to patient’s chief complaint. When observing patients walking in, you should note the gait pattern and whether walking aids are used. It is inevitable that patients may occasionally experience pain during your examination; however, this should be kept to a minimum by looking at your patient’s face throughout the examination. By the end of the examination, you should have a list of differential diagnoses, and a definitive diagnosis is confirmed with the least number of investigations. You should also note any other findings which may impact future management and surgical planning.