Minimally Invasive Hammertoe Surgery Miami

If you happen to struggle with a foot deformity such as hammertoe, finding a trusted podiatrist who will provide you with a surgical correction is necessary. One of the most common procedures for this type of deformity is minimally invasive hammertoe surgery. If you are curious to find out more about it and figure out if this is the procedure you can benefit from, keep reading. We’ve explained everything you can expect from this surgery in the text below.

AVERAGE COST

$2,500 - 3,000

PROCEDURE TIME

20 – 40 Min

BACK TO WORK

1 week

FULL RECOVERY

2 weeks

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Key Points on Minimally Invasive Hammertoe Surgery

Before we explain everything about correcting a hammertoe via surgical procedure, we should start by explaining what this condition actually means. Hammertoe deformity (also known as claw toe or mallet toe) is a common problem that occurs on lesser toes (most commonly, the second toe). It means a toe is permanently bent at a certain angle and can’t be straightened. This causes pain when weight-bearing or wearing shoes and can cause pressure between adjacent toes.

Usually, the condition is developed thanks to tight flexor tendons, which cause toes to curl up and remain in an irregular position. This can happen due to trauma, uncomfortable footwear, arthritis, certain foot structure, or even genetics. Hammertoe can also be closely related to hallux valgus, also known as the bunion of the hallux. The affected joint may remain flexible for some time, but it will gradually become more and more rigid.

Eventually, the surgery remains the only solution, but it doesn’t have to be an invasive procedure. Nowadays, the most common surgical procedure to fix hammertoe is a simple outpatient procedure – a minimally invasive hammertoe surgery. This means your podiatrist will make a simple, small incision and release the tight tendon. You don’t even need to be put under general anesthesia for this – local anesthetic and a sedative will be more than enough.

Key Points on Minimally Invasive Hammertoe Surgery

1. Initial Consultation

Like any medical condition, individual assessment of a patient is of utmost importance. Your doctor will do a detailed examination to determine whether your condition is the right fit for this type of surgery. The initial consultation will determine the next step.

There is not just one answer to the patient’s problem – the individual approach is extremely important, and your doctor will determine what would be the right way to proceed. However, the question is – how do you even know if it’s time to schedule a consultation? Here are the most common symptoms that lead patients to our waiting room:

The pain is persistent and keeps getting worse,
You can hardly stand, walk, or even wear shoes due to pain,
The pain limits your everyday activities and affects your quality of life,
Non-surgical treatment has failed to help with the condition.

2. Surgery Duration

The best thing about outpatient procedures such as this one is that they are extremely safe and quick. The entire time you will spend in our Luxe Foot Surgery clinic will be less than two hours. In fact, the approximate time required for minimally invasive hammertoe surgery is about 90 minutes, including pre-op and post-op. The surgery itself is pretty standard and straightforward.

After making a small, three-millimeter incision, the podiatrist will straighten or cut the tendon that’s causing the problem, and that’s basically the entire process. There is no need for any hardware – no pins or screws are necessary, and the correction is maintained by taping and wrapping every two weeks until 6-8 weeks post-operation.

3. Discomfort

What level of pain and discomfort should you expect after the procedure? Even though this is a minimally invasive surgery, it would be unreasonable to expect no pain at all. However, the level of discomfort you will feel is minimal – you will be able to stand on your feet the same day after the surgery. When it comes to pain during surgery, know that there won’t be any – thanks to local anesthesia, all you will feel is a slight pressure.

Thanks to a small incision, scarring and soft tissue disruption will be minor inconveniences as well. Your hammertoe surgery will provide you with the best results with almost no discomfort. It’s clear that the postoperative pain will be nothing compared to the persistent pain of a hammertoe.

4. Recovery

Don’t worry, you won’t experience much discomfort, and the recovery time for minimally invasive hammertoe surgery is quite short.

You will be able to walk the same day after the surgery, you will be able to carry your own weight immediately after the procedure despite the discomfort. You may need a walker or crutches to help with the balance, and you will be provided with special post-op shoes to help with the recovery. It might not seem like it’s easy to get back to walking immediately after the surgery, but it’s actually healthy for your soft tissue and bones to adjust to the surface right after the changes that have been made.

Of course, you are not expected to take long walks immediately after the surgery – the distance you walk should be gradually increased, and after about two weeks, you won’t need a walker or crutches anymore. You will be able to return to normal shoes after six weeks. When it comes to demanding physical activities such as sports, you can expect to be fully recovered after about ten weeks.

5. Final Results

What results are to be expected after minimally invasive hammertoe surgery? Even though it’s a simple procedure, the results will be exactly what you’re hoping for – a completely corrected deformity and balance improvement. This kind of correction might not take a lot of time to be done, but it certainly requires plenty of expertise and experience from your podiatrist – obviously, taking the time to carefully choose your doctor is essential.

Aesthetic improvement isn’t the only thing to look forward to. In fact, if your hammertoe has been causing severe pain (like in most cases), we believe that the main benefit you’re looking forward to is being relieved of pain. After the surgery, weight-bearing will be painless. You will be able to walk effortlessly, and your overall quality of life will improve. It’s also worth mentioning that various shapes of shoes won’t cause you discomfort anymore.

For such a simple procedure, minimally invasive hammertoe surgery certainly brings plenty of benefits. However, you should keep in mind the possibility of reoccurring hammertoe. It doesn’t happen often, but it’s possible. In that case, your podiatrist will need to do a detailed checkup and determine what might be causing the permanent symptoms. Still, 80-90% of hammertoe surgeries end up being successful.

How Much Is a Minimally Invasive Hammertoe Surgery in Miami?

The cost for a minimally invasive hammertoe surgery in Miami typically ranges from $5000 to $9000, providing an effective and less intrusive solution to correct the deformity. These prices often encompass various factors such as the surgeon’s fees, facility costs, anesthesia, and follow-up care.

However, individual costs may vary based on the complexity of the case and the specific healthcare provider. Although it’s a substantial investment, this procedure offers benefits like reduced recovery time and less postoperative discomfort compared to traditional surgery. It’s recommended to discuss with your healthcare provider or insurance company about potential financial assistance or payment plans.

All about Hammertoe surgery recovery

Compared to traditional surgical procedures (open surgery), minimally invasive techniques require less time to recover. The reason for this is simple – with such a small incision like the one performed during minimally invasive hammertoe surgery, there isn’t a lot of injury to soft tissue.

You won’t experience much pain – still, a certain level of discomfort is to be expected. Some patients need pain medication, but some don’t – it depends on the individual.

Additionally, as this kind of surgery doesn’t require general anesthesia, you won’t feel sleepy, have muscle aches, or feel nauseous (all of these things are common side effects of general anesthesia). With all this in mind, let’s take a look at the approximate recovery time you’re looking at after minimally invasive hammertoe surgery.

How Long Is the Recovery?

The recovery period should take only a few weeks – compared to recovery after traditional surgical approaches, this is way better and easier for the patient. Immediately after the surgery, you will be able to get back on your feet – weight-bearing is recommended on the same day post-op so the soft tissue, bones, and joints can get used to the surface as soon as possible. The distance you can go will gradually increase in the days and weeks after the procedure.

When the surgery is completed, you will be provided with specially designed footwear that will help with recovery. This footwear should be worn for about six weeks, and after that, you can get back to your regular footwear (but still, make sure you pick something comfortable to wear until your foot has fully recovered). You will also most likely need crutches or a walker in the first two weeks after the procedure to help with your balance, but the pain itself shouldn’t be a severe issue.

Tips for Recovery

What can help speed up the recovery process? Even though the recovery doesn’t take long, you can still do something to make it even shorter. Elevating the foot is a crucial thing – it will reduce swelling. You can place the foot on a pillow or rest it against the wall. Following the instructions your podiatrist gives you is also essential – don’t underestimate the importance of the special footwear they will provide you with after the procedure.

Physical therapy can be helpful for recovery, but it might not be necessary for some patients. Lastly, one thing you shouldn’t overlook is the change in lifestyle. What does this mean for a hammertoe deformity? For the most part, it means avoiding uncomfortable, narrow shoes and high heels. Make sure you wear comfortable footwear with a wide-toe box or open-toe shoes.

How do I prepare for surgery?

There’s not much to worry about before this kind of surgical procedure because it is minimally invasive, and it almost doesn’t feel like surgery. The only thing you should do is arrange for someone to pick you up from the clinic after the procedure. While it is possible that you will be able to drive on your own, you can never know for sure if this will be the case, and it’s best to have a friend or a family member by your side, ready to take you home. Depending on the kind of work you do, you might have to schedule some time off – at least a few days. This is only in case your type of work requires long periods of standing or walking, and the pain after the surgery can get in the way of that. You don’t need to prepare anything specific for the recovery (your doctor’s office will provide everything you need) – soft pillows to elevate your leg are the only thing you will need when you come back home.

Who is a good candidate?

Since the only way to fix a hammertoe is surgery, everyone who has it is a potential candidate. Some deformities don’t cause pain and aren’t fixed – they might not seem like a medical problem for a patient. However, this is just for now – in most cases, hammertoes become rigid and painful, affecting your everyday life. So, even if the deformity is only an aesthetic problem, fixing it is the best way to go.

How painful is Hammertoe Surgery?

The surgery itself won’t cause you any pain. You will be awake the entire time, but you will also be given a local anesthetic and a sedative. This is more than enough to block any kind of pain. The only thing you might feel is a slight pressure, but this isn’t uncomfortable. Even post-op pain isn’t an issue – your doctor will give you pain medication, but there is a chance you won’t even need it.

Have a consultation with your surgeon in Miami before the Hammertoe Surgery

If you’ve decided to get your hammertoe fixed, you will need a skilled and trustworthy podiatrist to perform the procedure. Finding a surgeon in Miami for this medical condition is easy – just reach out to Luxe Foot Surgery clinic, and we will schedule you a consultation with Dr. Lopez DPM. Your surgeon or coordinator will explain everything you want to know about the procedure and ensure you get the results you’ve been looking for. You can contact us via the inquiry form or call our office from Monday to Thursday from 9 AM to 6 PM or 9 AM to 5 PM on Friday.

HAMMERTOE SURGERY

Frequently asked questions

Does minimally Invasive Hammertoe Surgery leave a scar?

While traditional surgical procedures can leave scars, minimally invasive hammertoe correction will leave little to no scarring. This is thanks to the extremely small incision that’s performed during the procedure.

What are the risks of Hammertoe Surgery?

As opposed to traditional surgical approaches, this kind of surgery doesn’t come with many risks or complications. Risks of minimally invasive hammertoe surgery include nerve damage, failure to correct the deformity, and shortening of the bone. There is a chance of an infection and blood clots. You might experience weakness in your toes as well.

How to sleep after Hammertoe Surgery?

You can elevate your leg with the pillow or rest it against the wall. This will help reduce postoperative swelling (and, thus, pain). However, keep in mind that, with minimally invasive hammertoe correction, extensive swelling is not expected, so that’s not something you should worry about.

How long before you can walk after Hammertoe Surgery?

Since we are talking about a minimally invasive hammertoe surgery, you will be able to walk the same day after the procedure – but you shouldn’t expect to be able to walk long distances. You will need a walker or crutches for the first two weeks post-op. The distance you can walk will gradually increase every day.

When can I go back to work after Hammertoe Surgery?

This depends on the type of work you do – if the work doesn’t require standing for an excessive amount of time, you will be able to return immediately following the surgery. However, if your work involves excessive physical activity, you might need to take a few days off.

When can I workout after Hammertoe Surgery?

While you will be able to walk immediately after the procedure, it is recommended that you hold back with an intense workout until ten weeks after the procedure.