Step into Wellness: Advanced Foot & Ankle Care
At FLEX Institute, we understand healthy feet and ankles are the foundation of an active lifestyle and overall well-being. Whether you’re walking, running, or simply standing, these complex structures support your entire body weight, making their health crucial for maintaining your daily activities. Experiencing foot and ankle pain can severely impact your mobility and quality of life, which is why seeking specialized care is essential.
Experience the FLEX Difference
FLEX orthopedic specialists, Dr. Stephen Cox and Dr. J. Marshall Haynie, bring unmatched expertise to foot and ankle care. With years of experience and a commitment to innovative treatments, they offer advanced surgical and non-surgical options. Dr. Cox was the first in the region to perform total ankle arthroplasty, while Dr. Haynie introduced minimally invasive bunionectomy procedures. Together, they are leaders in providing comprehensive care tailored to each patient’s needs.
Understanding Foot & Ankle Pain
The foot and ankle are masterpieces of anatomical engineering, designed to support and propel the human body with every step. Comprising 26 bones, 33 joints, and over a hundred muscles, ligaments, and tendons, they work in perfect harmony to provide stability, flexibility, and balance. This intricate system allows for a wide range of motions, from the subtle movements required for balance to the powerful actions needed for walking, running, and jumping. Maintaining the health and function of this complex structure is essential for sustaining an active and vibrant lifestyle, ensuring you can move with ease and confidence.
Common Conditions We Treat
- Ankle Fractures: Ankle fractures involve breaks in one or more bones of the ankle joint, leading to pain, swelling, and difficulty in bearing weight.
- Ankle Sprains: Common injuries caused by twisting or impact, resulting in pain, swelling, and limited movement.
- Achilles Rupture: A tear in the Achilles tendon that severely impacts the ability to walk and requires prompt medical attention.
- Achilles Tendinitis: Caused by overuse and strain.
- Arthritis of the Foot & Ankle: A degenerative condition causing joint pain and stiffness, affecting mobility and daily activities.
- Bunions: Painful bony bumps that form on the joint at the base of the big toe, often leading to discomfort and difficulty wearing shoes.
- Diabetic Feet/Charcot Arthropathy: A serious complication in diabetic patients leading to foot deformities and increased risk of ulcers.
- Flat Foot: A condition where the arches of the feet are lowered or absent, potentially causing pain and alignment issues.
- Hammer Toe: A foot deformity where one or more toes are bent at the middle joint, causing discomfort and problems with footwear.
- Heel Pain: Caused by inflammation or irritation in the tissues of the heel, resulting in discomfort and difficulty walking.
- Morton’s Neuroma: A painful condition due to nerve compression in the foot, often felt as a burning sensation or sharp pain between the toes.
- Plantar Fasciitis: A painful condition characterized by inflammation of the thick band of tissue running across the bottom of the foot.
- Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle: Small cracks in the bones caused by repetitive force or overuse.
- Turf Toe: Sprained ligaments around the big toe joint, typically resulting from excessive upward bending of the toe.
Advanced Treatment Options
Ankle Arthroscopy
Ankle Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure using a small camera to diagnose and treat ankle problems. Through tiny incisions, FLEX surgeons can repair tissues and remove damaged cartilage or loose fragments. This technique offers patients quicker recovery times, less pain, and improved ankle function, making it a preferred option for treating various ankle conditions.
Achilles Tendon Repair
Achilles Tendon Repair surgery is performed to fix tears in the tendon connecting the calf muscle to the heel bone. The procedure involves stitching the torn ends of the tendon back together, restoring its strength and function. This surgery is essential for regaining normal walking and running capabilities, reducing pain, and preventing further tendon damage.
Bunionectomy
Bunionectomy is a surgical procedure to correct bunions, painful enlargements at the base of the big toe. The surgery involves removing the bunion and realigning the toe bones to restore normal foot function. This outpatient procedure helps alleviate pain and discomfort, allowing patients to return to daily activities with improved mobility and reduced footwear irritation.
Flat Foot Reconstruction
Flat Foot Reconstruction is a complex surgical procedure designed to rebuild the foot’s arch, alleviating pain and improving alignment. It involves reshaping bones, lengthening tendons, and repairing ligaments. This surgery aims to restore normal foot structure and function, reducing discomfort and enhancing walking capabilities, ultimately allowing patients to lead a more active and pain-free lifestyle.
Foot and Ankle Fracture Repair
Foot and Ankle Fracture Repair is a surgical intervention for realigning and stabilizing fractured bones using screws or plates. This procedure ensures proper healing and restores the foot’s structural integrity, allowing patients to resume weight-bearing activities. Addressing fractures effectively helps prevent long-term complications and ensures a quicker return to daily routines.
Hammer Toe Correction
Hammer Toe Correction surgery addresses the deformity where a toe bends downward at the middle joint, resembling a hammer. The procedure typically involves straightening the toe by repositioning bones, tendons, and ligaments, sometimes using pins for stabilization. This corrective surgery relieves pain and discomfort, improving toe alignment and function and allowing for more comfortable footwear and walking.
Total Ankle Replacement
Total Ankle Replacement, or ankle arthroplasty, involves replacing a damaged ankle joint with an artificial implant. This surgery is typically performed to relieve severe arthritis pain, restore joint motion, and improve overall foot function. By allowing for smoother movement, patients can enjoy enhanced mobility and a better quality of life without the pain that restricted their activities.
Dr. Cox was one of the first surgeons in Louisiana to perform total ankle replacements. Since then, Dr. Cox and Dr. Haynie have become the leaders in total ankle replacement, making it a safe and viable option for their patients.
Our Foot & Ankle Doctors
Stephen Cox, MD, a distinguished member of FLEX Institute since August 2005, has established himself as a leading expert in total ankle replacement and fusion in the region.
From a young age, Dr. Cox aspired to be either a Dallas Cowboy or a physician, and his journey through collegiate football at Washington and Lee University led him to pursue a career in medicine. After earning his medical degree and completing an orthopedic residency at LSU Health-Shreveport, he further honed his skills through a specialized fellowship in lower extremity and foot & ankle trauma at the Florida Orthopedic Institute.
Dr. Cox prioritizes open communication with his patients, ensuring they have a comprehensive understanding of their treatment options. He also emphasizes a collaborative approach: “Patients are the captains of their own ships, and I serve as their navigator, guiding them toward the best outcomes,” he explained.
A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Dr. Cox remains active on the sidelines of Captain Shreve High School and Loyola College Prep, supporting his sons, Carter and Trevor, in sports and community activities. His wife, Neal, is a dedicated fitness instructor, who complements his life both professionally and personally. The Cox family is deeply engaged with their community through organizations like Young Life and Volunteers of America, adapting their involvement to where their assistance is most impactful. Dr. Cox enjoys deer hunting and fishing in his leisure time, balancing his professional dedication with personal passions.
Read Dr. Cox’s full bio here.
Dr. J. Marshall Haynie, a valued member of FLEX Institute since 2016, has quickly earned a reputation as a highly skilled and approachable surgeon specializing in lower extremity, foot, and ankle care, including total ankle replacement.
Initially pursuing mechanical engineering in college, Dr. Haynie found his true calling in orthopedics, where he could merge his passion for medicine with engineering principles. His orthopedic residency at the University of Oklahoma sparked a keen interest in the foot and ankle specialty, offering him diverse surgical experiences.
Dr. Haynie is dedicated to providing comprehensive care to patients of all ages and activity levels, treating a wide array of musculoskeletal issues from head to toe. He advocates for early consultation, reassuring patients that seeking medical advice does not obligate them to undergo surgery.
“You have control over your treatment decisions, and often, the solutions can be simpler than anticipated. Many patients find relief and wish they had sought help sooner,” he said.
Away from the clinic, Dr. Haynie and his wife, Dr. Amanda Haynie, a pediatrician at Mid City Pediatrics, balance their careers with raising their four children—two sons and two daughters. In his leisure time, Dr. Haynie enjoys restoring vintage jeeps, fishing, and hunting, reflecting his love for both mechanics and the outdoors.
Read Dr. Haynie’s full bio here.
