Toe Shortening Surgery Miami

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.