Deformities in the toes top the list of the most common cases within our medical consultations; This condition appears mostly in people between 50 and 70 years old. In hammertoe, the affected toe suffers a deformation that leads it to take on a curved or flexed appearance very different from its normal appearance.
Hammertoe can be generated in one or more toes; the main causes of appearance are the following:
Intrinsic muscle imbalance of the foot.
Rheumatoid arthritis.
Frequent use of inappropriate footwear; even more so, in those women who regularly wear high heels and narrow toes.
Genetic factors (familial predisposition).
The most relevant advantage of hammertoe surgery is that once the operation has been performed, the patient will obtain a definitive result; which means that the pathology in that finger (or fingers) will never occur again.
At the Panama Clinic Orthopedic Center (COPAC) we have a team of professionals with an extensive learning curve and a lot of expertise in treatments and surgeries for foot deformities in people of all ages. With our help, you will be able to regain the mobility of your fingers, improve your appearance and walk pain-free within a few days.
Pain when you put pressure on your finger.
Decreased movement.
Rigidity.
Irritation.
Appearance of a visible deformity in the toe that makes it difficult for the patient to feel comfortable in any footwear.
Skin infections caused by rubbing or sores.
In theory, there are more than 150 surgical techniques to repair hammertoe. After the specific diagnosis based on the physical examination and X-rays of the foot, the specialist will issue his recommendation on the type of surgery that he considers most appropriate for your case.
Depending on the patient’s condition, a choice can be made between a percutaneous (minimally invasive) or open procedure. During the operation, the doctor may: Remove small pieces of the toe, cut or transplant tendons; as well as fusing the joint in order to straighten the finger and make it impossible for it to bend again.
Hammertoe surgery doesn’t just serve to improve your patience; It is also essential to definitively solve the stiff or flexed finger jam, which can negatively influence the patient’s gait and quality of life.
Have an appointment with the specialist and explain in detail your medical history, current diseases, allergies, medications, supplements, frequently used vitamins, among others.
Follow doctor's instructions about the drugs you should take and/or restrict before surgery.
Avoid tobacco and alcohol use, both of which can lengthen your recovery time.
Talk to your doctor about postponing surgery, if in the days following the intervention you notice symptoms of flu, cold, fever, infection, etc.
Do not eat or drink in the hours leading up to surgery.
Patients with this condition should be evaluated by our specialists to determine the techniques to be implemented during surgery, in order to provide a comprehensive approach and truly effective solutions.
We invite you to contact our team of professionals, who will gladly let you know all the details to obtain a quote according to your needs.
In this section, we take care to clear up some of the most recurrent doubts regarding this topic…
The prognosis for recovery after this type of intervention is very favorable. The patient will return home the same day as the surgery; however, it is important to take into consideration all medical observations to achieve rapid healing.
From the moment he is discharged, the patient can support his foot using only a special type of footwear for 3 weeks after the operation. Full recovery is reached at approximately 4 weeks; however, it is recommended to pause sports activities until 8 weeks postoperatively.
In addition to the common risks in surgery, including: anesthesia, allergic reactions, breathing problems, bleeding or infection; Complications associated with hammertoe surgery include:
Most of the current procedures are done through the percutaneous method, where the specialist makes small holes to introduce the medical instruments; This makes the scar spots virtually unnoticeable.
The rest time will be estimated by the specialist based on the complexity of the intervention. Although it is true that patients can walk out of the clinic on the same day, there are also exceptional cases that do not fall within these parameters.
Your doctor will tell you for sure how many days you should wait to lead a normal life, aiming for a total fixation and successful correction.
This is a very simple operation that in recent years has become quite routine. At the hands of an expert surgeon, the procedure can vary between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the deformity to be corrected and the number of fingers affected.
