
Bunion Surgery With Morton’s Toe Shortening Explained
Bunions and Morton’s toes are common podiatric conditions – sometimes, they can be found on the same foot. If you’re struggling with both of these
A foot deformity, such as a long toe, is a common problem that requires treatment. Have you been considering the possibility of having a toe shortening surgery? If you have, you need to get familiar with the basics of this surgical procedure – who is a candidate for it, what is to be expected after the surgery, and how long is the recovery time? All of these are questions we’ve explained in detail in this text.
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It’s finally time for your toe shortening surgery – what should you expect from the procedure? This is a simple, quick outpatient procedure, which means you will be back home the same day after surgery. You won’t even need to be put under general anesthesia – local analgesics are more than enough to control the pain and discomfort while your surgeon fixes the deformity.
The surgery can take anywhere from 20 minutes to three hours (due to anesthesia/sedation effects) – it all depends on the condition of your foot and how severe the deformity is. Since this is a minimally invasive surgery, there won’t be any large incisions – instead, the surgeon will make a few small ones that will allow them to access the bone in order to fix the toe. Sometimes, implants or wires are used to keep the toe stable while it heals. Here are the techniques that can be used for the toe shortening:
Depending on the complexity of the case, the surgeon might need to perform additional procedures, for example – removing corns or calluses. Either way, these skin lesions will fall off on their own in a couple of weeks since there won’t be any pressure or friction in those areas of the foot. Once everything is done, the surgeon will place sutures and surgical tape. Sutures will be taken off two weeks after the surgery.
As mentioned above, long toes don’t necessarily have to cause symptoms, but they often do. The most common occurrence is pain at the tip of the toe (pressure from shoes, especially those that crowd the toes) and around the toenail. Pain can be anywhere from mild to severe, and it can also be dull or sharp – it depends from person to person. Wearing tight shoes for extended periods of time usually worsens the pain and discomfort.
Long toes are often a site of inflammation. They appear red, warm, sensitive, and swollen. They can also affect foot function and balance. Overall, the condition brings plenty of discomfort during everyday activities and is often a source of low self-esteem. Whatever it is, it can easily be dealt with by a simple and quick procedure, which will drastically improve the quality of a patient’s life.
Compared to other foot conditions that are the result of lifestyle choices (mainly the type of shoes the person often chooses to wear), long toes are a consequence of genetics. So, it’s a hereditary condition.
The toe in question might be significantly longer than the rest of the toes, but there is also the case where the adjacent toes are shorter than normal, making the long toe appear drastically long, even if it’s regular-sized. Another possibility is the presence of a bunion deformity on the big toe, which can make the second toe functionally longer. In that case, there might be a complication in the form of crossing the big and the second toe.
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There isn’t a right or wrong time to seek treatment for this condition. You can reach out and book a consultation with your podiatrist at any time – they will examine your foot and recommend treatment options that would best suit your case. Some people decide to treat the deformity strictly for cosmetic reasons, but others look at this treatment as a medical necessity. The most common reasons that finally bring patients into the doctor’s office include the following:
Of course, before the patient decides to pursue surgery, the doctor might recommend some non-surgical treatment options that can alleviate the symptoms.
However, these are simply aimed at stopping the progression of the deformity and can’t actually fix it. Surgery is the only way to fix the problem fully. Before that step, your doctor may recommend custom foot orthotics, toe splints or pads, and physical therapy. Anti-inflammatory medication and cortisone injections can help with the pain and inflammation.
Since the incisions are very small, there won’t be much trauma to the soft tissues, which means quicker recovery with very little pain. There won’t be visible scarring – even if you can see the scar in the beginning, over time, it will fade and become virtually invisible. Thanks to non-invasive surgical techniques, weight-bearing will be possible shortly after the surgery, and the overall recovery will be a lot quicker than recovery after traditional procedures. You will be back to your everyday life in a few short weeks.
Lastly, let’s not forget the important benefit that this procedure will bring you – an increase in self-confidence and comfort. A better appearance of the foot always means a lot to patients, and it helps them wear open shoes more comfortably. Plus, it becomes easier to find footwear that fits your foot perfectly and doesn’t put pressure on the toes. Your balance will also be improved – the second toe has an important role in that, which means that fixing it will be quite helpful.
Minimally invasive toe shortening surgery recovery time is not long – it’s definitely less than the recovery after traditional procedures. The time you’ll need to fully recover after this surgery depends on the severity of your case, the complexity of the procedure, and the technique used to fix the deformity. However, we can say that the average recovery time for toe shortening surgery is about six weeks. If the surgery has some complications, a patient might need up to three months to fully recover – but this is still quicker than recovery after traditional surgery.
The recovery process after toe shortening is pretty similar to the one after hammertoe or bunion surgeries. It’s nothing complex – you just need to be patient. There’s not much you can do to speed it up, but it’s important to note that you can prolong your recovery if you don’t take care of yourself. It’s best to take it easy for a while after the surgery, sleep well, eat healthily, and avoid smoking (it can prolong wound healing, making the recovery longer).
After the procedure, you will be provided with the surgical shoe that is supposed to help with your recovery – be sure to wear it as per your doctor’s instructions. This custom-made footwear is specifically designed to help with healing and ensure that toes stay in the position the surgeon wants them to be, so don’t think it’s not important to wear it. The surgical shoe should stay on your foot for about two weeks – if the deformity is more complex than usual, you might need to wear it longer. You can return to normal shoes once your doctor says it’s okay.
When it comes to walking and weight-bearing post-surgery, you should know that you will most likely be able to walk the same day after the procedure. Essentially, this depends from case to case – the main factors that affect weight-bearing are the complexity of the deformity and the technique used during surgery. It’s also important to note that the toe that was operated on plays an important role in this. If it was the second toe, walking and weight-bearing might occur a bit later – this toe is crucial for balance, so the recovery requires more time than the recovery of the other lesser toes.
The pain after surgery is common, and it’s nothing to worry about. You won’t experience it during the procedure itself, thanks to anesthesia, but once it wears off, you might start to experience the discomfort. Of course, the level of pain depends from patient to patient. Some don’t feel anything, some experience mild pain that doesn’t require medication, and some need pain medication to get through the recovery process. In the vast majority of cases, NSAIDs are more than enough to help you deal with the pain. They are over-the-counter products, but be sure to consult with your doctor nonetheless. They will tell you how much and how long you should take these medications.
There are many complex foot deformities that trouble the patients and urge them to seek medical help. One of the most common problems, often seen at our clinic, is a long toe. Long toe is exactly what the name suggests – one of the lesser toes that’s longer than the big toe. Usually, it’s the second toe that’s longer than the rest, but it can be any other as well. The condition can be quite unpleasant for the person who has it, but it can also be asymptomatic – it all depends on the case and severity of the deformity.
Long toes can be straight or bent. In the beginning, they are often straight, and as the condition progresses, they transform into a buckled toe, which is referred to as a hammertoe deformity. After some time, the toe is permanently bent and can’t in any way be straightened (this is known as a contracture). All this is a result of the pressure from the shoes – the shoes push the long toe to bend, and over time, it simply remains in that position.
Luckily, toe shortening surgeries have evolved in recent years, and they are now nothing more than simple procedures. Thanks to medical advancements, all you need to get rid of the long toe is an excellent surgeon who has the necessary skills to make the change.
The ability to walk immediately after the surgery depends on what kind of procedure you’ve had and how complex the deformity was. Some patients can walk the same day after the procedure with the surgical shoe, and some will take a while to recover enough for weight-bearing. Also, an important factor in this is the toe that was operated on – if it was the second one, it might take a bit longer to walk because the second toe is crucial for balance. If it was the fourth or fifth, you would most likely be walking sooner.
After the surgery, you will have to recover for a few weeks. On average, it takes six weeks to fully recover from minimally invasive toe shortening surgery. The recovery process is similar to one after hammertoe and bunion surgeries. You will have to wear the surgical shoe for about two weeks, and you might experience some pain and swelling. There might also be some complications, but they aren’t common.
Toe shortening surgery itself isn’t painful – you will be given local anesthetics that will numb the area that’s operated on. However, once the anesthesia wears off, you might start experiencing some pain that can last up to a few weeks – it differs from patient to patient. Some don’t feel any pain, and some require pain medication. Your doctor will recommend you take NSAIDs (over-the-counter pain medication) in case you need them.
It depends on the complexity of the surgery that was performed – some patients might be able to drive immediately, especially if the procedure was performed on the left foot. However, it’s best to consult with your doctor about this, as they are familiar with your particular case.
This depends on the case and its severity. In most cases, toe shortening surgery is performed under local anesthetic. Theoretically, other types of anesthesia can be used, such as regional and spinal block or general anesthesia.
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