Hammer Toe Surgery

Hammer toe surgery is a procedure that is aimed at correcting the deformity that causes a toe to become bent upward in the middle.

Your hammertoe can be either flexible or stiff. Depending on the flexibility of your toe, Dr. Petkov of Premier Podiatry will decide on the best surgical technique.

If you have other foot problems, such as corns, callouses, or a bunion, along with the hammer toe deformity, you should consider addressing them as one problem might contribute to the other.

In its earliest stages, a hammer toe is flexible enough that it can be fixed with conservative treatments, but you still need to seek the advice of an expert podiatrist at the first sign of the abnormality. Once the toe becomes rigid, you may need hammer toe correction surgery. If you have a toe joint that’s bent, painful, and difficult to move, have your feet examined by a foot specialist at Clifton podiatry practice for a firm diagnosis and effective treatment.

When your hammer toe is still flexible, it may be possible to correct it without surgery. But if more supportive footwear, orthotics, or toe exercises do not relieve your toe pain, surgical intervention is the only way to get back to a pain-free life. It’s especially important to get professional guidance for your foot deformity if you have medical problems such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. The earlier you see your foot specialist, the more likely it is that conservative treatment will work for you.

A hammer toe surgery procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia, which shortens recovery time and prevents complications that can occur when general anesthesia is used. The most common surgery for hammer toe used to be a traditional procedure that involved permanently fusing two bones together to straighten and stabilize the toe.

Newer hammertoe correction procedures allow your podiatrist to implant permanent rods and screws in the toe to hold it stable or use a minimally invasive procedure to release the stuck tendons. A typical hammer toe operation takes less than an hour, and you’ll usually go home on the same day.

Once the surgery is complete, you may experience some stiffness and swelling in the toe. Swelling is a normal part of the healing process. In some cases, it can persist even up to 6 months after the hammertoe operation. That’s normal. It may take up to 12 weeks to be able to wear most of your own shoes. You may need a wide, soft, and deep shoe in the meantime. Dr. Petkov is always on hand to support and guide you throughout the rehabilitation phase. Hence, a swift and healthy recovery can be guaranteed.

To help his patients recover faster after the hammertoe correction, Dr. Petkov advises:

• Keeping your foot elevated as much as possible for the first few weeks after surgery
• Wearing a special shoe to avoid bearing any weight on your foot for four to six weeks
• Using crutches whenever you walk, keeping weight off the recovering toe
• Following your doctor’s orders for physical therapy to increase your chances of a full recovery

Is Hammer Toe Surgery Painful?

The majority of hammertoe surgeries are classified as minor. Pain is generally mild and should last only for several days following the procedure. Adherence to postoperative instructions has a direct impact on pain. OTC medications may be sufficient to alleviate your symptoms. If necessary, mild to moderate pain medicine may be prescribed and taken for one or two days.

While being an undisputed leader in hammer toe treatment in Clifton, NJ, Dr. Velimir Petkov performs the hammer toe surgery procedure under the most stringent protocols of safety. Before surgery, he conducts a thorough evaluation, meticulously examining each patient. Only then can he enact the successful outcomes he is known for. But all surgeries carry a certain degree of risk, and hammer toe surgery is not an exception.

Surgical correction might lead to complications, including, but not limited to:

• Recurrent deformity
• Stiffness
• Pain
• Vascular impairment
• Malalignment
• PIP joint instability
• Chronic edema
• Infection

Even though these complications are rare, Dr. Petkov always discloses all the potential risks in a clear and detailed manner prior to hammertoe surgery in New Jersey.

Can Hammer Toes Be Corrected Without Surgery?

There are milder and more severe cases of hammertoe, and treatment will depend on the severity of the condition. If your toes are flexible, your doctor might suggest that you start wearing more comfortable shoes and add shoe inserts or pads, which can help relieve the pain and pressure and improve the position of your toe. The specialist might also recommend that you do some exercises, such as crumpling a towel using only your toes or picking up marbles. This can help to stretch and strengthen your toe muscles.

Is Hammer Toe Correction Surgery Covered by Insurance?

Insurance or Medicare will often pay the cost of hammer toe surgery if it is considered medically necessary. On the other hand, your insurance will probably not pay for a hammertoe correction if you solely want to have it done for aesthetic purposes.