Hammertoe correction surgery helps relieve the painful symptoms and restore toe functionality caused by hammertoes. This often-inherited condition occurs when toes are abnormally bent down due to various factors, such as genetic predisposition or wearing ill-fitting footwear. Through this specialized corrective procedure, patients can look forward to improved mobility and comfort in their feet and throughout their entire body.
The procedure involves realigning the tendons around the toe joints and removing any excess tissue that has formed due to the deformity. During surgery, your doctor may also place pins in your toe to hold it in its corrected position until it heals. They also recommend fusing two joints for greater stability. Additionally, your doctor may recommend wearing custom-made orthotics or special shoes following surgery to help ensure proper healing. Orthotics are specifically designed for each patient to meet their unique needs and may consist of a range of materials such as foam, gel, or plastic. The sole is often contoured slightly in order to evenly distribute pressure across the entire foot when walking or running.
Following successful hammertoe correction surgery, patients should expect pain and discomfort during recovery, which can last anywhere from two weeks to four weeks, depending on how severe their condition was before surgery. Recovery may also include physical therapy exercises such as stretching, strengthening, and range-of-motion activities performed under the guidance of a physical therapist. During your follow-up visits after surgery, your podiatrist will check for any signs of infection, check on your stitches, assess how well you are progressing through recovery, and adjust treatments if necessary.