If your hammertoe doesn’t get better with conservative treatments like special shoes, orthotics, and exercise, then surgery is the last resort to fix it. However, are you eligible for hammertoe surgery? How do you prepare? What to expect? How long will it take to recover? Are there any risks? If you have these questions in mind, read these FAQs to learn everything you need to know about Hammertoe correction surgery. Get a consultation with the best Podiatrists in Brooklyn.
Hammertoe correction surgery FAQs
These FAQs will help you understand what you need to know about hammertoe correction surgery to fix your hammertoe.
- When is hammertoe correction surgery needed to treat hammertoes?
Ans. You should consider hammertoe correction surgery when other treatments, such as changing shoes, custom orthotics, exercises, and pain medications, fail to provide you with relief. Your hammertoe symptoms, such as pain, irritation, and trouble finding shoes that fit, are worsening and increasing the risk of complications like sores that can lead to skin infections, and the development of other foot conditions like bunions, heel spurs, and corns. These problems can be fixed in one operation to provide overall foot relief.
- When are you not a good candidate for hammertoe correction surgery?
Ans. You might not be a good candidate for hammertoe correction surgery if you have:
- Poor circulation in your feet
- An active infection
- Other health problems that make surgery risky
- An allergy to anesthesia or other materials used in surgery
- How to Prepare for Hammertoe Correction Surgery?
Ans. Before the surgery, the doctor may recommend that you undergo imaging tests like X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to check your overall health before the surgery. Your surgeon will guide you on what changes you need to make before and after surgery. General instructions before hammertoe correction surgery may include:
- Medication: Your surgeon may tell you what medication you can take or stop. Generally, the surgeon may ask you to stop taking blood clot medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc., before the procedure because these medications make it difficult for blood to clot.
- Smoking: If you smoke, quit it because it increases the risk of infection. You need to quit smoking at least one month before and after the procedure.
- Diet: A week before surgery, eating a balanced diet is recommended to help with the healing process. You may also need to fast (not eat or drink anything) for 6 to 12 hours before the surgery.
- Infection: If you have signs or symptoms of an infection, like a cold, flu, chest, or urinary infection, in the days before surgery, you should tell the surgeon. Then, your surgeon will postpone the surgery until you are cured.
- Blood clots: To lower the risk of developing a blood clot in the legs or lungs, some recommendations are given by your surgeon before the surgery.
- Exercise: It is important to make your body as fit as possible before the procedure, so you recover faster. You may need to follow an exercise program recommended by the surgeon.
- What to expect during the procedure?
Ans. Typically, hammer toe surgery is an outpatient procedure, which means you can go home on the same day after the procedure. During the procedure, you may get general anesthesia, so you are asleep for the entire procedure. You can discuss with your doctor to decide whether you can undergo surgery without general anesthesia by taking numbing medications instead to ensure you don’t feel any pain in your foot during the procedure.
The type of surgery you get depends on the severity of your hammer toe. If you have a flexible hammertoe, then the surgeon does a tendon transfer, which involves redirecting tendons from the bottom of the toe to the top when it’s bent, which straightens the toe.
If you have a rigid or stiff hammertoe, then there are two options
- Joint resection: In this procedure, the surgeon makes an incision over the toe skin to reach the ligaments and tendons underneath. To remove one bone from the end and insert pins or rods, it is temporarily done to make the toe straight during healing. These pins or rods will be removed after 6 weeks of surgery.
- Fusion: In this procedure, the surgeon will cut the ligaments and tendons to straighten the toe; however, the ends of the bones need to be cut straight. So, when they are joined by using pins and screws, they make the toe straight and heal or fuse.
After surgery, most people can go home after some time to rest and recover.
- What to expect after the surgery?
Ans. Most people go home on the same day after surgery. After the surgery, you will be shifted to the recovery room for one to two hours for monitoring before being discharged. Make sure you follow the instructions of the surgeon:
- You need to keep your legs elevated most of the time.
- Commonly, you may experience some pain and discomfort after surgery, which can be managed with pain medication that is prescribed by the surgeon.
- You may need to wear special shoes for a few weeks or use crutches for several weeks for proper recovery.
- You need to follow up on appointments to check up after surgery. The dressing appointment will happen 2 weeks after surgery. Then, you may need a follow-up X-ray to ensure your healing is proper.
- What risks are involved with hammertoe correction surgery?
Ans. Similar to all surgeries, hammertoe correction surgery also involves risks with anesthesia, infection, damage to nerves and blood vessels, bleeding, or blood clots. The common risks associated with hammertoe correction surgery are:
- Poor alignment of the toe
- The toe is unstable because of the cutting of bone, ligaments, and tendons
- A scar from surgery that causes pain when touched
- Shortening of the toe
- Stiffness in the toe or the toe becomes too straight
- Toe appearance changes
- Blood supply loss to the toe
- How long will the recovery take after the hammertoe correction surgery?
Ans. The full recovery can take 6 months up to a year, depending on the severity of your hammertoe.
Hammertoe correction surgery is the last resort to fix your hammertoe when other treatments fail to provide relief. Surgery type depends on the severity of your hammertoe. You also need to understand that even after surgery, there is still a chance of developing hammertoes again. You can work with your specialist to prevent the recurrence of hammertoes and take full advantage of the surgery.
Need help with hammertoe? Visit our podiatry clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!! At Doral Health & Wellness, we have Podiatrists with extensive education and expertise. If you’re ready to take the next step in managing your pain, we recommend consulting with our healthcare provider to explore the right treatments or therapies for you. Always listen to your body and adjust your daily routine to prioritize your well-being. Trauma to the tendons, muscles, and bones of the foot is quite common. It’s not a good idea to put off seeing Foot Doctor Brooklyn until you are in a lot of pain. Our address is 1797 Pitkin Avenue, New York, NY 11212. To make an appointment, please call + 1 718 367 2555 or send an email toinfo@doralhw.org.
