Dr.Artis was so amazing. After going to two other podiatrists who gave me no support or hope, Dr. artis made me feel like there can be change for me. She was so patient, kind and informative. I’m actually excited to go back and get my results.
Osteomyelitis bacterial infection of the bone is one of the most feared and serious complications that can develop from a foot wound, diabetic ulcer, soft tissue infection, or surgical site. It often develops insidiously, without dramatic symptoms, while bone tissue is quietly being destroyed by bacteria and the inflammatory response they trigger. By the time many patients receive the diagnosis, significant structural damage has already occurred and in some cases, providers unfamiliar with modern limb-preserving strategies move immediately to amputation. At Healthy Feet NYC, our podiatrists maintain a high clinical suspicion for osteomyelitis in any non-healing foot wound, acting quickly to confirm or rule out bone involvement and working alongside infectious disease specialists and orthopedic or podiatric surgeons to pursue the most conservative, limb-preserving treatment strategy available.
Bone infection in the foot, or osteomyelitis, most commonly develops through contiguous spread from an overlying soft tissue infection or wound particularly in patients with diabetic neuropathic ulcers, deep puncture injuries, or post-surgical complications where bacteria gain direct access to bone. Less commonly, it arises from hematogenous seeding during a bloodstream infection. The condition is suspected clinically when a wound probes to bone (the “probe-to-bone test” has strong positive predictive value in diabetic foot ulcers), when plain X-rays show periosteal reaction or bone destruction, or when a wound fails to heal despite appropriate soft tissue management. Definitive diagnosis relies on MRI the gold standard for early osteomyelitis detection, with high sensitivity and specificity combined with bone biopsy and culture to identify the causative organism and its antibiotic sensitivities. At Healthy Feet NYC, we initiate this diagnostic pathway promptly for any wound that raises clinical concern for bone infection.
Treatment of osteomyelitis in the foot is complex, prolonged, and requires close coordination between multiple specialties. The standard of care involves a course of culture-directed antibiotics typically spanning 4 to 6 weeks administered intravenously, orally with highly bioavailable agents, or in a sequential IV-to-oral approach depending on the organism and patient circumstances. However, antibiotics alone are frequently insufficient without surgical source control: debridement of infected and necrotic bone (sequestrectomy), removal of any hardware involved in the infection, and in some cases partial ray resection to achieve clean surgical margins. Our team manages every phase of this process from the initial diagnostic workup through culture results, antibiotic selection in partnership with infectious disease, surgical planning, post-operative wound care, and long-term monitoring for recurrence. We pursue limb-preserving strategies as the default, reserving more extensive resection for cases where it is genuinely unavoidable.
TESTIMONIAL
Dr.Artis was so amazing. After going to two other podiatrists who gave me no support or hope, Dr. artis made me feel like there can be change for me. She was so patient, kind and informative. I’m actually excited to go back and get my results.
Everyone was super friendly. Doctor Rick’s explained everything thoroughly.
Dr Bell was incredibly thorough and personable. Gave me great information and useful information for my next steps. A great experience!
“Fast, professional, and very clean office. I was checked in and seen within 10 minutes of my scheduled time. Dr. Ricks was straight to the point but thorough. The front desk staff was also incredibly helpful.
All of the staff are super welcoming and professional! Bianca took excellent care in getting my X-rays. Dr. Ricks was thorough in explaining my diagnosis and next steps. Highly recommended!!
Well before I came in today to see Dr. Ricks my foot in pain was 9/10 and now I feel good 🙏🏿🤩 thanks
Behind every great care experience is a team that truly listens. Our doctors are committed to understanding your needs, delivering personalized treatment, and supporting you every step of your health journey.
Dr. Farah Alani is a New York City foot and ankle surgeon at To Healthy Feet Podiatry, a boutique podiatry practice located in the heart…
Dr. Alison Bell was born in Manhattan and is a Public Health graduate of Charles R. Drew University. She obtained her medical degree from Kent…
Dr. Roxann Clarke is a graduate of Hampton University in Virginia, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology and her Master of Science…
Dr. Ricks is a board-certified fellowship-trained podiatric surgeon committed to delivering top-tier foot and ankle care. From New Jersey, she a Bachelor’s in…
As the Chief Operating Officer of To Healthy Feet Podiatry, Tiffany provides leadership to ensure all administrative are producing optimal results. Dr….
Our award-winning podiatrists at 4 Manhattan locations treat every condition — from heel pain to minimally invasive surgery — with care plans built around your lifestyle and budget.
Available at all 4 NYC locations
Walk in, walk out — no general anesthesia
We handle the billing so you don't have to
As seen in Forbes & InStyle Magazine