A Promising Solution for Foot & Ankle Conditions

  • Fall 2022
Dr. Nephi Jones and Dr. Ryan Prusa

Podiatrist Dr. Nephi Jones will join forces with his new partner, Podiatrist Dr. Ryan Prusa, to perform advanced foot and ankle surgical procedures at Brookings Health.

Dr. Prusa joined the active medical staff at Brookings Hospital this September. He recently completed his residency in podiatric medicine and surgery at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. He received his doctorates from Des Moines University.

The two foot and ankle surgeons will collaborate to provide complex foot and ankle reconstruction surgery for patients when conservative treatments have been unsuccessful. Conditions they will treat include:

  • Charcot Foot: a rare but serious condition that affects the bones, joints and soft tissues of the foot or ankle that is more common in people with diabetes. Bones become weak and can break. Joints in the foot or ankle can dislocate. If not caught early, the joints in the foot collapse, eventually deforming the foot. Reconstructive surgery aims to correct the deformity before pressure sores and wounds develop on the foot and ankle, preventing infection or amputation.
  • Flatfeet: a condition in which the inside arches of the feet are flattened, allowing the entire soles to touch the floor when standing. People can be born with flatfeet. They can also develop flatfeet after an injury or from wear-and-tear with age. Reconstructive surgery involves a combination of procedures that address the bones, ligaments and tendons that support the arch. The goals are to improve foot alignment, restore more normal pressure while standing or walking and relieve pain.
  • Rearfoot & Ankle: damage to the back of the foot and ankle from various conditions can cause deformities and impair function. The heel is a main point of impact when you walk and helps you to balance. The back part of the foot also helps with balance and acts as an anchor point for the arch and ankle. The ankle allows the foot to point, flex, and rotate. It also helps absorb some of the impact from footfalls. Reconstructing the rearfoot or ankle with the right combination of procedures restores function so the foot system works normally without pain.

By working together, Dr. Jones and Dr. Prusa help improve patients’ quality of life and let them return to normal daily activities.

Learn more about podiatric procedures at brookingshealth.org/Podiatry.