Hammertoe Surgery is an option when conservative treatment such as shoe modifications and orthotics have failed to give any relief of pain. In earlier stages, hammertoes are flexible and the symptoms can often be managed with noninvasive measures. Treatment is typically directed towards pain relief by accommodations made around painful corns and calluses. Gel pads and shoe modifications are simple measures that can offer significant pain relief. Prescription-strength creams can also be effective in treating the increased skin buildup. As hammertoes become more rigid, hammertoe surgery is very effective in correcting the underlying problems associated with the contracted joints. We offer many conservative and surgical treatment options for Hammertoes. If conservative measures have failed to give you relief, our board-certified foot and ankle surgeons can discuss your surgical options.
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Da Vinci Foot and Ankle Lake Oconee
Hammertoe Surgery
Prior to surgery, our foot doctors will obtain digital x-rays in the office and will discuss the procedure that would be optimal for your foot. As laser surgery is not available for Hammertoe Surgery, a small incision is made on the top of the toe resulting in a minor scar. Typically, the small joints are fused into the correct position, while contractures within the associated tendons are released. Hammertoe surgery generally takes about an hour to complete under IV sedation and takes place in an outpatient setting. Da Vinci Foot and Ankle, currently performs surgery at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Greensboro, Ga, Putnam General in Eatonton, GA and University McDuffie Hospital in Thomson, GA. Due to the anesthesia, patients are not permitted to eat or drink after midnight the night before surgery and are not permitted to drive themselves home after the surgery. Lastly, a prescription for pain medicine will be given for comfort after the procedure. After hammertoe surgery, a post-operative block is administered around the surgical site to offer numbness and painless recovery for the return home. Even though the foot may stay numb for up to 2 days after surgery, it is recommended that pain medication and an anti-inflammatory are initiated the same day of surgery. It is important to ice and elevate the foot afterwards in addition to generally resting, as this will aid in a smooth recovery.
After Hammertoe Surgery
After surgery, a sterile dressing and walking boot are applied. The dressing is not to be changed or tampered with until seen by the doctor 1 week after surgery. Patients are permitted to walk on the operative foot as instructed by your surgeon. Depending on surgeon preference, patients will be transitioned back to a supportive athletic shoe as tolerated typically one week after the surgery. In general it is advised to decrease or modify your activities after surgery as post-operative pain and swelling is correlated to patient activities. Aside from our extensive surgical training, one thing that also separates Da Vinci Foot and Ankle from the competition is that we treat all of our surgical patients with MLS Laser Therapy immediately after surgery. This additional care enhances tissue healing, reduce swelling and pain, and ultimately speeds up patients recovery time.
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Da Vinci Foot and Ankle Lake Oconee
