Metatarsal Surgery

Unfortunately, treatment for serious injuries to the structure of your foot or diseases that cause foot pain may require surgery to fix the problem. Dr. Velimir Petkov of podiatry practice NJ considers surgical interventions only when absolutely necessary. After reaching his diagnosis, he discusses your options with you. If you need surgery, you can trust Dr. Petkov to take care of you from start to finish. Call today to find out if you need metatarsal surgery.

Metatarsal surgery involves a minimally invasive procedure for correcting foot injuries that affect your metatarsal bones. Each of your feet has five long metatarsal bones that connect each toe to the bottom part of your foot. The first metatarsal sits just behind the big toe. It’s usually the location where bunions develop.

Removing bunions is the most common reason for the metatarsal surgery, but you may need surgery for other reasons, such as:

• Hammer toes. Hammer toes affect the second, third or fourth metatarsal bones.
• Calluses. You can get painful calluses at the bottom of your feet under the second through fifth metatarsals.
• Diabetic foot. Diabetics must be cautious about any diabetic foot ulcers that develop on the ball of the foot. These ulcers require immediate treatment.
• Rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis can affect the health of your metatarsal bones at the joints.
• Injury or bunions. These things often happen to the fifth metatarsal bone that connects to your little toe.

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Getting Metatarsal Surgery

Dr. Velimir Petkov — the foot doctor at Premier Podiatry in Clifton, New Jersey — investigates the root cause of your heel pain, toe pain, ankle pain and generalized foot pain. You have to undergo a complete medical and physical examination of your feet, along with tests like a digital x-ray or a diagnostic ultrasound to see exactly where the problem lies. As there are several metatarsal surgical interventions available, Dr. Petkov must make the right diagnosis before he recommends the most appropriate treatment.

The type of metatarsal surgery you need depends entirely on your condition. The options include:

• Metatarsal surgery for bunions. This procedure involves cutting the metatarsal bone at the base of the big or little toe. Then your podiatrist reattaches it in the right position using metal pins or screws.
• Metatarsal surgery for hammer toes. Hammertoe surgery decreases the pressure from the metatarsal joint bone so that your weight is more evenly distributed. Your podiatrist cuts the bone parallel to the sole of your foot, and then pulls it back toward the heel, joined with metal pins or screws. You may also have to undergo bunion surgery and hammertoe surgery at the same time to completely resolve your hammertoes.
• Metatarsal surgery for calluses. When your metatarsal bone is lower than the rest of the bones in your feet, it puts excessive pressure on your feet when you walk or run. In time, you develop calluses that require surgery. The procedure also raises the metatarsal bone parallel to the other bones.
• Metatarsal surgery for diabetic foot ulcers. This procedure corrects any deformity like bunions, calluses or hammertoes. The surgery involves cutting or smoothing down the bone that’s causing your foot ulcers.
• Metatarsal surgery for rheumatoid arthritis. To correct the stiffening of your big toe, Dr. Petkov removes the metatarsal joint heads and straightens the rest of the toes.
• Metatarsal surgery for a fracture. When you fracture a metatarsal bone, it’s usually the fifth metatarsal bone of the little toe. Treatment involves using pins and screws to fix the bones in place so that they fuse.

Your foot doctor can do the surgery in the comfort of his office in Clifton. Before the surgery, you get some form of numbing anesthetic to allay the pain from the procedure. Usually, the surgery takes about an hour, but it depends on the severity of your foot problem. You can trust Dr. Petkov to put your needs first.

Metatarsal Surgery Aftercare

Immediately after the surgery, you have to wear a special boot that prevents weight-bearing pressure on your foot. As you’re under Dr. Petkov’s care, surgical risks are greatly reduced. You also get home care instructions, like elevating your foot above your heart as often as possible. You may have to take pain medications for the first couple days of your recovery.

It takes several months for your foot to completely heal. Your expert foot doctor removes your stitches in 10 to 14 days. You may need to do some physical therapy, depending on your leg condition, and your doctor may recommend orthotics for your shoes to better support your foot. Contact Premier Podiatry for the best care before, during and after your metatarsal surgery.

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