Hammer, claw, mallet toe surgery is a sequence of surgical treatments used to rectify malformed toes. Hammer toes, claw toes, and mallet toes are the three most common types of toe deformities in people’s feet. A hammer toe is a curling toe caused by a bend in the middle joint. It is also known as a deformed toe, rotated toe, bone spur, or contracted toe. It might be elastic or stiff, affecting four smaller toes.
Meanwhile, mallet and claw toes are the same as hammer toes in that they impact various joints on the toe. In a mallet toe, a joint at the tip of the toe buckles, whereas a claw toe includes aberrant postures of all three joints in the toe.
What surgical procedures are used to repair the hammer, claw, and mallet toes?
The following are several of the most popular surgical methods performed for hammer, claw, mallet toe surgery:
- Capsulotomy and Tenoplasty. Tightened ligaments and tendons, which have caused the toe joints to constrict, are released or lengthened during these operations.
- Tendon transfer. An elastic hammer toe deformation is treated with this surgery.
- Arthroplasty of the bones. The physician eliminates cartilage and bone during this treatment to rectify the toe deformity.
- Arthroplasty for derotation. The surgeon uses this method to straighten the deformed toe by removing a tiny wedge of skin.
- Arthroplasty with implants. The surgeon injects a silicone rubber or metal implant developed explicitly for the toe to substitute the gliding covers of the joint and function as a joint spacer during this treatment.
What happens during hammer, claw, and mallet toe surgery treatment?
- First, people frequently see a doctor concerning toe abnormalities due to foot discomfort or pain while walking or jogging.
- When assessing a patient who might need surgery to fix a toe deformity, the doctor considers various criteria. Several surgical treatments require a little cutting or tissue elimination, while others necessitate significant dissection.
- In addition to visually examining the patient’s foot, the surgeon will ask the individual to walk back and forth in the office or corridor to assess the patient’s gait.
- Before surgery, the patient is given a local anesthetic, and their foot is cleaned and draped.
- When a toe deformity is unpleasant or permanent, hammer, claw, mallet toe surgery reduces discomfort, fixes the condition, and gives a stable, functioning toe.
What should you do following the injection?
Following the hammer, claw, mallet toe surgery, the patient might anticipate considerable edema, stiffness, and restricted movement in the operated foot for up to eight to twelve weeks. Patients are advised to elevate the operated foot past the level of their heart and to use cold packs.
