What Should You Expect After Hammer Toe Surgery?

Summary: What is hammertoe and how does it affect people? What can one expect after a hammertoe surgery? Read on to know about the consequences of the surgery.

Hammertoe is a condition when one or more toes curl inwards, rather than point forwards as is normal. This can be a congenital affliction or as a result of severe arthritis or from wearing ill-fitted shoes for years. 

Hammertoe is a curable problem and is treated based on the severity of the problem. In the worst-case scenario, doctors will advise on hammertoe surgery in Baltimore and at other locations. 

Purpose

The main purpose of the hammer toes surgery is to reorient the crooked bones to straighten the toes. This can be achieved by ensuring there are surgical breaks, with the help of a pin or screw to keep the realigned pieces in place. Surgeons often leave a protruding pin at the end of the toe, thus enabling them to better monitor the healing progress post-surgery. The treatment plan may not require a full surgery and if in early stages can be treated with regular over the counter drugs and other material to help decrease the pain. 

Post-surgery

Patients are usually sedated in the outpatient facility with IV, as the surgery is considered to be a small one. This means that doctors provide specialized, post-operative shoes in which walking is allowed, within moderation. The shoes are also meant to protect from the thick bandaging and the pin, keeping the joints in place. After two weeks, the suture can be removed, alongside being able to resume a normal bathing schedule. Skipping baths initially will also ensure an infection-free time. 

The hammertoe treatment can be painful and it is expected that the ball of the foot and the toes are sensitive after the procedure. Depending on the severity of the conditions, the toes can take any time between six weeks to six months to recover from. Walking can be difficult, and any impact style sports such as jogging and running will hurt and take anytime between six to twelve weeks to get comfortable with; swelling is also another factor that impedes one’s ability to move freely.

Driving a left-sided car is allowed post-surgery, although it must be automatic for convenience. Right-sided drives will take time to achieve, as the person recovers from the hammer toe surgery. It is advisable to visit the doctor at the earliest signs of the problem; aggravated hammertoes require extensive treatments, which can render the patient incapable of doing basic living tasks for weeks or months.

Resource Box: Podiatry Associates, P.A. offers a wide range of medical solutions and surgical treatment for injuries, disorders, or conditions related to the foot and ankle in Baltimore.

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Ryan Davis Joined: September 4th, 2020