In the west, ankle surgery is a relatively complicated subject. There are both foot and ankle surgeons who are trained in orthopaedics and traditional foot medicine. Ankle and foot surgery is relatively late in orthopedics. However, historical records of the treatment of ankle and foot diseases date back to ancient Greek and Egyptian civilizations.

早在公元前2500年，埃及的大事记中就有足病治疗的记载。写于公元前1500年的埃贝尔纸草文书上有用橄榄油和牛脂肪治疗足鸡眼的记载。希波克拉底 (460-377BC)的手稿中也涉及到马蹄内翻足和足胼胝。公元615年Paul、Aegina报道了足部鸡眼和胼胝的外科治疗。北欧在14世纪颁布了 “理发师医生”的行医指南，成员可以拔牙、放血、切除鸡眼以及治疗疼痛。曾有学者认为，牙医和足医都包括在这个指南之中。被称为16世纪法国外科之父的 Pare设计了纠正马蹄足内翻畸形的矫形鞋。

       As early as the 2500 B.C., there were records of foot disease treatment in the chronicle of Egypt. Abel's papyrus, written in 1500 B.C., recorded the use of olive oil and cattle fat to treat the eyes of chickens with feet. F Pokela Di's (460-377BC) manuscript also involved talipes talipes and foot callus. Ad 615, Paul and Aegina reported surgical treatment of foot corn and callosal. In the 14th century, Nordic countries promulgated a "barber's doctor" medical guide, which allows members to extract teeth, bleed, remove chicken eyes and treat pain. Some scholars believe that dentists and foot doctors are included in this guide. Pare, the father of French surgery in sixteenth Century, designed orthopaedic shoes to correct the varus deformity of the clubfoot.