Within the United States medical and surgical care of the foot and ankle is mainly provided by two groups of physicians: Podiatrists (DPM) and orthopaedic surgeons.
Podiatrists who are certified in Foot and Ankle Surgery or certified in Foot Surgery and certified in reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery by the ABPS are specifically trained to diagnose and perform complex surgical treatments of the foot and ankle. They are an integral part of the health care team, and combined with all other podiatric physicians, currently treat the majority of foot-related medical issues in the U.S. This also includes diabetic foot related problems and other foot related problems.