General Practitioners

• Warts
• Arthritis
• Plantar Fasciitis
  As mentioned, Dr. Corral is highly trained and specializes in all aspects of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. Despite his qualifications, you will find he is caring, compassionate, and understanding of his patients' needs and problems. He takes the time to explain diagnosis and available treatments. Always striving for better treatment outcomes, his surgical training continues and has included adult and pediatric flatfoot surgery, charcot reconstruction, trauma reconstruction from heel to toes, minimal incision surgery for bunions and hammertoes, endoscopic minimal incision surgery for plantar fasciitis and neuroma, traditional surgery for bunion and hammertoes, specialized Lapidus and Lapifuse bunion surgery, Ilizarov metatarsal lengthening procedures, tarsal tunnel surgery for nerve entrapment and neuropathy, ankle fusion, and the Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement.
• Emergency Care
  Dr. Oscar Corral is a native of Fort Stockton Texas. Since the fifth grade his father and mother, Oscar and Julie Corral, taught him to love hard work and long hours at Eagle Electric and Refrigeration, the family business. As a young man, however, Corral was always interested in medicine and emergency care. In high school he worked as a Radiology Tech Assistant at a hospital, and at the same time, as a Medical Assistant with a local family physician. He was an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) before graduating high school and volunteered at his home town EMS during his college years in San Angelo. As an EMT he was involved with providing first aid, CPR, basic life support, and advanced trauma life support. In San Angelo, during college, he volunteered at the local hospital emergency room as an EMT and Medical Assistant. Before completing his Bachelors of Chemistry Degree, an accident at the outdoor gun range changed the direction of his medical aspirations. He literally, but accidentally, shot himself in the foot. The podiatrist who treated him was an inspiration and Corral volunteered at this office for several months before graduating college. The experience taught Corral the importance of treating foot and ankle pain and trauma. He received his Podiatry education at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. His surgical training was a Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Residency at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. St. Barnabas is a level one trauma center where Dr. Corral was exposed to foot and ankle trauma, orthopedic trauma, vascular surgery, and orthopedic elective surgery. Corral and his wife moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 2006 to work at Complete Family Foot Care. Drs Caporusso, Bender, and Prukop provided motivation and compassion to treat our patients with the highest level of care and education. Corral became board certified by the American Board of Podiatric surgery and the American Board of Podiatric Medicine.
• Diabetic Foot Care

Endocrinologist

• Diabetes Care

Radiologist

• MRI
  The diagnosis of Neuromas is made by a physical exam and a thorough history of the patient's complaint. Conditions that mimic the pain associated with Neuromas are stress fracture of the metatarsals, inflammation of the tendons in the bottom of the toes, arthritis of the joint between the metatarsal bone and the toe, or nerve compression or nerve damage further up in the foot, ankle, knee, hip, or back. X-rays are generally taken to rule out a possible stress fracture or arthritis. Because nerve tissue is not seen on an x-ray, the x-ray will not show the neuroma. A skilled foot specialist will be able to actually feel the neuroma on his exam of the foot. Special studies such as MRI, CT Scan, and nerve conduction studies have little value in the diagnosis of a neuroma. Additionally, these studies can be very expensive and generally the results do not alter the doctor's treatment plan. If the doctor on his exam cannot feel the neuroma, and if the patient's symptoms are not what is commonly seen, then nerve compression at another level should be suspected. In this instance, one area to be examined is the ankle.
• Radiology
• X-Rays
• Computed Tomography

Surgeons

• Wound Care
• Ankle Surgery
  Dr. Thomas E. Brooks joined Complete Family Foot Care in February 2003 at our Mission location. He received his degree in podiatric medicine from the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine. Dr. Brooks is a case reviewer for the Texas State Board of Podiatric Medicine. Dr. Brooks was a member of the United States Navy from 1971-1975. He is a member of the following professional associations American Diabetes Association, Texas Podiatric Medical Association and the American Podiatric Medical Association. He is board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgery. Dr. Brooks served as a United States Public Service Podiatric Physician from 1984-1988. He remains a consultant for the United States Public Service to this day.
• Bunion Surgery
• Metatarsal Surgery
  There are numerous over the counter treatments for corns and calluses. Some of these remedies have an acid in them that burn the callous off. Care should be taken when using these medications. If used incorrectly they can cause a chemical burn to the skin. Additionally these remedies are only temporary because the source of the pressure has not been alleviated. Professional treatment consists of using a special shoe insert called a functional orthotic that corrects foot function. In certain instances surgery may be recommended. Surgery is directed at correcting the alignment of the offending bone. Cutting out the callous will only make the condition worse if the underling boney problem is not corrected. Metatarsal surgery is discussed in another section.
• Bunions
  The classic bunion, medically known as hallux abductovalgus or HAV, is a bump on the side of the great toe joint. This bump represents an actual deviation of the 1st metatarsal and often an overgrowth of bone on the metatarsal head. In addition, there is also deviation of the great toe toward the second toe. In severe cases, the great toe can either lie above or below the second toe. Shoes are often blamed for creating these problems. This, however, is inaccurate. It has been noted that primitive tribes where going barefoot is the norm will also develop bunions. Bunions develop from abnormal foot structure and mechanics (e.g. excessive pronation ), which place an undue load on the 1st metatarsal. This leads to stretching of supporting soft tissue structures such as joint capsules and ligaments with the end result being gradual deviation of the 1st metatarsal. As the deformity increases, there is an abnormal pull of certain tendons, which leads to the drifting of the great toe toward the 2nd toe. At this stage, there is also adaptation of the joint itself that occurs.
• Gangrene
  Ingrown toenails are due to the penetration of the edges of the nail plate into the soft tissue of the toe. It begins with a painful irritation that often becomes infected. With bacterial invasion, the nail margin becomes red and swollen often demonstrating drainage or pus. In people who have diabetes or poor circulation, this relatively minor problem can be become quite severe. In this instance, a simple ingrown toenail can result in gangrene of the toe. Patients with joint replacements or pace makers are at risk of bacterial spread through the blood stream resulting in the spread of infection to these sites. These patients should seek medical attention at the earliest sign of an ingrown toenail. There are several causes of ingrown toenails: a hereditary tendency to form ingrown toenails, improperly cutting the toenails either too short or cutting into the side of the nail, and ill-fitting shoes can cause them. Children will often develop ingrown toenails as a result of pealing or tearing their toenails off instead of trimming them with a nail clipper. Once an ingrown toenail starts, they will often reoccur. Many people perform "bathroom" surgery to cut the nail margin out only to have it reoccur months later as the nail grows out.
• Vascular Surgery
• Ingrown Toenails
  Treatment for ingrown toenails is relatively painless. The injection to numb the toe may hurt some, but a skilled doctor has techniques to minimize this discomfort. Once the toe is numb, the nail margin is removed and the nail root in this area is destroyed. Most commonly, the doctor will use an acid to kill the root of the nail, but other techniques are also available. It may take a few weeks for the nail margin to completely heal, but there are generally no restrictions in activity, bathing, or wearing shoes. Once the numbness wears off, there may be some very mild discomfort but rarely does this require pain medicine. A resumption of sports activities and exercise is generally permitted the following day.

Plastic Surgeons

• Hammertoe Surgery
  Home treatment should be directed at reducing the pressure between the toes with cotton or a foam cushion and using an antibiotic ointment to reduce the risk of infection. Over the counter corn removers should never be used in this area because of the risk of increased damage to the skin resulting in infection. Professional treatment consists of removing the irregular shaped bone that causes the development of the corn. Some patients prefer that the doctor simply trim down and pad the calloused areas. This is a common form of treatment in patients with diabetes. See correcting soft corns, removing bone spurs, and hammertoe surgery.

Dermatologists

• Corns
  Soft corns are areas of white moist skin between the toes. They most commonly occur between the fourth and fifth toes. They can be very painful and if not treated can form small ulcerations or sinus tracts that can become infected. Acute athlete's foot can mimic the soft corn. The soft corn is due to an irregularity in the shape of the bone in the fourth or fifth toes.
• Cyst
• Calluses
  The most common area for the formation of calluses on the bottom of the foot is in the area of the ball of the foot. This is a weight bearing area where the long bones behind the toes called metatarsals, bear the greatest amount of weight and pressure. If one or more of these long bones (metatarsals) is out of alignment then excessive pressure is generated in the area producing a callous. The callused area can be very discreet and have a "core" or they can be more dispersed covering a larger area. These areas can become quite painful as the skin thickens. People who have diabetes are at risk of these areas breaking down producing sores or ulcerations that can become infected. People with diabetes should not try home remedies and should see a doctor for the treatment.
• Lesions
  Laser removal of the wart works by burning the wart with a laser beam. The area must be numbed with an anesthetic prior to the procedure. There is little advantage to removing warts with a laser unless the warts are very large (mosaic warts) or there are a large number to be removed. The risks associated with the use of the laser are the same as for cutting the warts out. These risks include infection and the development of a scar after healing. A new type of laser has been developed to treat several different types of skin lesions called the Pulsed Dye Laser. This new laser has promise in the effective treatment of warts.
• Burns

Physical Therapists

• Sports Medicine
• Flatfoot Correction
• Heel Pain
• Orthotics and Prosthetic Therapy

Podiatrists

• General Podiatry
  Dr. Bryan J. Prukop joined Complete Family Foot Care in 2000. He was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. He graduated undergraduate school at St Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas and obtained his doctor of podiatric medicine from Des Moines University in Des Moines, Iowa. Dr Prukop trained at the Veterans' Affairs Medical Center in Temple, Texas and the University of Texas Health Science Center - San Antonio. He is Board certified by the American board of Podiatric Medicine and maintains affiliations with several local hospitals.
• Achilles Tendonitis
• Bunions Problems
  One of the more common conditions treated by podiatric surgeons is the painful bunion. Patients with this condition will usually complain of pain when wearing certain shoes, especially snug fitting dress shoes, or with physical activity, such as walking or running. Bunions are most commonly treated by conservative means. This may involve shoe gear modification, padding and orthoses. When this fails to provide adequate relief, surgery is often recommended. There are several surgical procedures to correct bunions. Selection of the most appropriate procedure for each patient requires knowledge of the level of deformity, review of the x-rays and an open discussion of the goals of the surgical procedure. Almost all surgical procedures require cutting and repositioning the first metatarsal. In the case of mild to moderate bunion deformities the bone cut is most often performed at the neck of the metatarsal (near the joint).
• Calluses
• Diabetic Foot Care
• Hammertoes
  They tend to slowly get worse with time and frequently flexible deformities become rigid. Treatment can be preventative, symptomatic or curative. (For information on hammertoe of the big toe see Hallux hammertoe)
• Heel Spurs
  Heel pain is most often caused by plantar fasciitis, a condition that is sometimes also called heel spur syndrome when a spur is present. Heel pain may also be due to other causes, such as a stress fracture, tendonitis, arthritis, nerve irritation, or, rarely, a cyst.
• Heel Pain
• Foot Pain
• Ingrown Toenails
  There are very few complications associated with this procedure. Reoccurrence of the ingrown toenail can occur a small percentage of the time. Continuation of the infection is possible which can be controlled easily with oral antibiotics. On occasion, the remaining nail may become loose from the nail bed and fall off. A new nail will grow out to replace it over several months. With removal of the nail margin, the nail will be narrower and this should be expected.
• Foot Neuroma
  A neuroma is the swelling of nerve that is a result of a compression or trauma. They are often described as nerve tumors. However, they are not in the purest sense a tumor. They are a swelling within the nerve that may result in permanent nerve damage. The most common site for a neuroma is on the ball of the foot. The most common cause of neuroma in ball of the foot is the abnormal movement of the long bones behind the toes called metatarsal bones. A small nerve passes between the spaces of the metatarsals. At the base of the toes, the nerves split forming a "Y" and enter the toes. It is in this area the nerve gets pinched and swells, forming the neuroma. Burning pain, tingling, and numbness in one or two of the toes is a common symptom. Sometimes this pain can become so severe, it can bring tears to a patient's eyes. Removing the shoe and rubbing the ball of the foot helps to ease the pain. As the nerve swells, it can be felt as a popping sensation when walking. Pain is intermittent and is aggravated by anything that results in further pinching of the nerve. When the neuroma is present in the space between the third and fourth toes, it is called a Morton's Neuroma. This is the most common area for a neuroma to form. Another common area is between the second and third toes. Neuromas can occur in one or both of these areas and in one or both feet at the same time. Neuromas are very rare in the spaces between the big toe and second toe, and between the fourth and fifth toes. Neuromas have been identified in the heel area, resulting in heel pain.
• Foot Orthotics
  If the heel pain persists, your foot doctor may suggest a cortisone injection, taping the foot to support the arch, night splints to stretch the calf muscles at night while you are sleeping, or functional foot orthotics. On occasion, surgery may be required to cure this condition. Orthotics should be tried before surgery and should be used following the surgical procedure ( See surgical treatment of plantar heel pain ).
• Plantar Fasciitis
  A common foot complaint is pain in the bottom of the heel. This is often referred to as heel spurs or plantar fasciitis. It commonly is painful the first few steps in the morning or after rest. It tends to get worse the longer one stands during the day. It is caused by subtle changes in foot structure that occurs over time. These changes result in the gradual flattening of the arch. As this occurs, a thick ligament (the plantar fascia) that is attached to the bottom of the heel and fans out into the ball of the foot is stretched excessively. This ligament acts as a shock absorber while walking. As the foot flattens, it stretches. If it stretches too much, it gets inflamed and causes pain. Over time, the pull of the ligament creates a spur on the heel bone. It is important to realize that it is not the spur that causes the pain, and therefore, the spur does not need to be removed in most cases. This condition may also cause generalized arch pain, called plantar fasciitis. This is an inflammation of the plantar fascial ligament.
• Podiatric Surgery
  Dr. Oscar Corral is a native of Fort Stockton Texas. Since the fifth grade his father and mother, Oscar and Julie Corral, taught him to love hard work and long hours at Eagle Electric and Refrigeration, the family business. As a young man, however, Corral was always interested in medicine and emergency care. In high school he worked as a Radiology Tech Assistant at a hospital, and at the same time, as a Medical Assistant with a local family physician. He was an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) before graduating high school and volunteered at his home town EMS during his college years in San Angelo. As an EMT he was involved with providing first aid, CPR, basic life support, and advanced trauma life support. In San Angelo, during college, he volunteered at the local hospital emergency room as an EMT and Medical Assistant. Before completing his Bachelors of Chemistry Degree, an accident at the outdoor gun range changed the direction of his medical aspirations. He literally, but accidentally, shot himself in the foot. The podiatrist who treated him was an inspiration and Corral volunteered at this office for several months before graduating college. The experience taught Corral the importance of treating foot and ankle pain and trauma. He received his Podiatry education at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. His surgical training was a Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Residency at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. St. Barnabas is a level one trauma center where Dr. Corral was exposed to foot and ankle trauma, orthopedic trauma, vascular surgery, and orthopedic elective surgery. Corral and his wife moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 2006 to work at Complete Family Foot Care. Drs Caporusso, Bender, and Prukop provided motivation and compassion to treat our patients with the highest level of care and education. Corral became board certified by the American Board of Podiatric surgery and the American Board of Podiatric Medicine. Read More