Pod Patrol: Podiatry Podcast

The fastest way to get better at minimally invasive surgery is to study what goes wrong. Dr. Jeff Dikis and Dr. Brad Abicht break down the complications that matter most in MIS bunion and forefoot surgery, from thermal necrosis and periprosthetic fracture to nonunion, screw prominence, and unexpected hardware failure.

Jeff hosts the final episode of MIS Adventures with Brad, a foot and ankle surgeon in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and section chair at Emplify Health by Gundersen, as they walk through real cases instead of textbook theory. This is not a highlight reel. It is a candid, practical conversation about what happens when tiny incisions still lead to big problems.

You’ll discover:

• Why tourniquets can raise the risk of thermal injury in MIS
• How screw placement, length, and orientation can change your complication profile
• When a distal osteotomy is the wrong choice and a Lapidus makes more sense
• How to think about nonunion, varus drift, hardware prominence, and lateral cortex fractures
• Why some complications need revision while others are best watched and allowed to settle

Brad shares the decision-making behind salvage strategies, revision planning, bone grafting, cultures, wound VAC use, and when to back off and let healing unfold. Jeff pushes the conversation with sharp questions about fixation, imaging, vascular concerns, hypermobility, overactivity, and whether MIS head procedures deserve different rules than open bunion surgery.

If you do MIS, are learning MIS, or are deciding when not to do MIS, this episode gives you the complication patterns, practical tips, and hard-earned lessons that can save you from repeating someone else’s mistake. Essential listening for surgeons who want more than perfect post-op X-rays.

This Episode is Brought To You By: www.PodiatryGrowth.com/PodPatrolCheck out  @TheDPMJourney  on YouTubeIn this episode of Pod Patrol, Dr. Jeff Dikis speaks with Dr. Diksha Mohapatra about finding purpose in podiatry, the importance of mentorship, and the experiences that shaped her path through medical training. They discuss how her YouTube channel, The Podiatry Journey, became a way to educate students, residents, and future physicians while offering an honest look at the realities of podiatry, residency, fellowship, and professional growth.Listeners will learn practical tips for success in medical training, including how to choose the right residency or fellowship, make the most of clinical rotations, build confidence, respond to constructive criticism, and avoid comparing themselves to others. Whether you are considering podiatry, currently in training, or beginning your career, this conversation offers encouragement and straightforward advice for building a successful and fulfilling future in the field.

Routine office procedures turn dangerous fast when no one is ready.

On this episode of GaitKeepers Journal Club, Dr. Jeff Dikis is joined by Dr. Tim Miller and Dr. David Schweibish for a practical, high-stakes conversation on the in-office complications that can catch even experienced clinicians off guard—and what to do before panic sets in.

From vasovagal episodes and anaphylaxis to hypoglycemia, bleeding, DVTs, and surgical site issues, this episode is packed with real-world decision points you can use the next time something starts going sideways in your clinic. The guests share firsthand stories, including a lidocaine allergy that turned into a true anaphylactic emergency, a vasovagal event that required fast team response, and a DVT that surfaced in a surprising non-operative case.

This Episode is Brought To You By: www.PodiatryGrowth.com/PodPatrol

Dr. Joaquin “JB” Balaguer shares the story of pioneering podiatry in Puerto Rico. After playing basketball at Duquesne University, attending podiatry school in Ohio, and training at Stanford’s Podiatry Residency program, JB returned home in 1993 and built a successful private practice from the ground up. He explains how he helped expand podiatry’s access to major health plans and hospitals, challenged outdated stereotypes, and advocated for greater recognition of podiatric medicine across the island.JB and Dr. Jeff Dikis also discuss practicing medicine in Puerto Rico, recruiting physicians, relationships between podiatry and orthopedics, and the future of minimally invasive surgery. From healthcare policy and professional advocacy to surgical innovation and life in Puerto Rico, this episode offers an insightful look at how one podiatrist helped build and advance the specialty in a unique medical landscape.

MIS-Adventures is a limited series hosted on InHouseCME.com

Dr. Amiethab "Tabs" Aiyer is the Division Chief of Foot & Ankle Surgery at Johns Hopkins University

In this episode of MIS Adventures, Dr. Jeff Dikis and Dr. Aiyer explore minimally invasive principles for calcaneal and complex trauma fixation, with a focus on respecting soft tissues while still achieving strong anatomic reduction. They walk through real cases step by step, showing how careful incision placement, thoughtful pre-op CT review, and controlled reduction techniques can help protect wound healing, support alignment, and set patients up for better long-term outcomes.

The conversation also dives into practical decision-making in surgery: when to use a lamina spreader versus a Hinterman, how to evaluate and protect the peroneal tendons, when to consider grafting, and why fixation strategy should match the injury pattern and the patient’s anatomy. With a mix of clinical insight, real-world case examples, and candid surgical discussion, this episode is designed for surgeons who want a more strategic, tissue-respectful approach to complex foot and ankle trauma.

This Episode is Brought To You By:www.PodiatryGrowth.com/PodPatrol

Follow Nick on IG @dr.iggy.dpm

Fellowship success starts long before the application goes out. Dr. Nick Igbinigie shares the exact mindset, networking habits, and personal discipline that helped him land a competitive foot and ankle fellowship with Dr. Calvin Rushing - and why the people who stand out are the ones who show up early, work hard, and stay authentic.

Dr. Iggy, a Dallas-based podiatric surgeon and the youngest of six siblings in a family with four physicians, talks about growing up surrounded by medicine, why he chose podiatry, and how he started preparing for fellowship as early as his first year of residency. He and Dr. Jeff Dikis break down the real-world steps that matter most: conferences, research, introductions, social media presence, and building a reputation that matches who you are behind the scenes.

Dr. Calvin Rushing joins Dr. Jeff Dikis for a hard-hitting conversation on unstable ankle fractures, syndesmotic alignment, and why the newest generation of intramedullary fibular nails may finally solve some of the biggest pitfalls of older techniques.

Rushing breaks down what went wrong with early cases, and how newer straight or semi-flexible designs changed his thinking. He also explains the center-center technique for syndesmotic fixation, why rotation of the nail matters more than most surgeons realize, and how a simple AP view can hide a malreduction that a lateral x-ray or CT scan makes impossible to ignore.

Dr. Rushing also shares the practical realities that drive the debate: noncompliance, high-BMI patients, revision surgery, delayed wound healing, and the very real tradeoffs between easier plating and the long-term benefits of evolving toward minimally invasive fixation.

Jeff and Calvin also revisit vancomycin powder, sustained-release carriers, and the broader push to make infection prevention actually last beyond the first few hours after surgery.

If you fix ankle fractures, manage syndesmotic injuries, or want a clearer framework for when to plate, when to nail, and how to avoid creating a bigger problem than the one you started with, this episode is essential listening.

In this episode of Pod Patrol Podcast, host Dr. Jeff Dikis talks with Dr. Kyle McKray Smith about how he built a surgical practice focused on peripheral nerve work and trauma, and why nerve surgery can change outcomes for patients who have been told to simply wait. They cover practical evaluation, case selection, and several real-world lower-extremity nerve cases, including drop foot, chronic heel pain, neuroma pain, and tendon transfer strategies.

Dr. Smith also shares how mentorship from Dr. Edgardo Rodriguez shaped his training, plus the step-by-step thinking behind nerve exploration, decompression, wraps, fat grafting, and targeted muscular reinervation. This episode is especially useful for surgeons who want a clearer framework for identifying and treating peripheral nerve pathology.

This Episode is Brought To You By:www.PodiatryGrowth.com/PodPatrol

In this episode, Dr. Douglas Pacaccio takes us behind the scenes of the Fellowship selection process. He details his extensive experience in limb salvage, complex foot and ankle reconstruction, and the staged approaches used to manage challenging podiatric cases. They discuss practical insights into Charcot reconstruction, infection management, deformity correction, and the clinical decision-making that supports better patient outcomes.

The conversation also explores practice realities in podiatry, including private practice, coding, mentorship, and the importance of continuous learning. From fellowship training to building a niche practice, this episode highlights the mindset, experience, and compassion needed to deliver excellent care in high-acuity foot and ankle cases.

Dr. Jeff Dikis and expert guest Tyler Gonzalez reveal how minimally invasive techniques can revolutionize complex hindfoot fusions. Discover why even your most challenging cases—like calcaneal osteotomies and subtalar fusions—are ripe for a less invasive approach that lowers complication rates and accelerates recovery.

In this episode, Tyler Gonzalez MD, shares his insights on mastering MIS in the hindfoot. You'll learn: the step-by-step setup for MIS subtalar and TN joint fusions, including portal placement and anatomical landmarks; how to assess joint prep effectively with fluoroscopy and nanoscopes; and the critical importance of proper fixation versus meticulous joint preparation—arguing that the latter may be most vital for union success.

We break down specific tips to avoid common pitfalls, like bone over-resection and skin burns, emphasizing soft tissue preservation over traditional open techniques. Tyler reveals his preferred biologic grafting strategies—combining autograft and allograft for optimal union—and discusses his postoperative protocols that promote faster healing with fewer wound complications. The conversation even covers how to adapt MIS principles for severe deformities, including flat feet and severe hindfoot valgus, making high-level reconstruction accessible to skilled surgeons.

If you're ready to expand your surgical "armamentarium" with safe, effective MIS techniques for complex hindfoot cases, this episode delivers the proven methods and expert insights to transform your practice.