What to do for Crooked toes
The treatment of a painful hammertoe deformity has dramatically changed in the past few years. What used to require stainless steel pins protruding through the ends of the toes, now involves a small metallic implant that stays permanently buried and is essentially undetectable inside the toe bone. Elyria Podiatrist Dr. Roger Friedman says this usually leads to far less pain post-operatively and allows for a quicker return to everyday activities.
The underlying cause of hammertoes is not fully understood, but the general thinking is that it is partially caused by an imbalance between the flexor and extensor tendons and the way in which they function in the foot. In addition, hereditary factors may be involved as well as an associated lack of proper function of the small muscles of the foot in providing stability to the toes.
The basic procedure to correct a hammertoe involves lengthening or rebalancing any tendon irregularity and removing a small portion of bone from the toe to allow the to toe be straightened. In the past, a stainless steel "K-wire" pin would be placed to hold the toe straight during healing. This would require removal and because it stuck out from the end of the toe, required a person to wear a surgical shoe for up to 6 weeks until the pin was ready to be removed. Using the new technique, a small metallic implant is used which stays buried in the toe bone and permits a much quicker return to normal shoes.
For more information about this advanced technique, please call us at 440-934-8444 to schedule an appointment or use our Online Appointment Form. We treat patients from communities throughout Northeast Ohio including Amherst, Avon, Avon Lake, Wellington, LaGrange, Grafton, Oberlin, North Ridgeville, Sheffield Village, Oberlin, Lorain and Elyria. Our office is conveniently located just north of Lorain County Community College at 5321 Meadow Lane Court in Elyria, Ohio.
The treatment of a painful hammertoe deformity has dramatically changed in the past few years. What used to require stainless steel pins protruding through the ends of the toes, now involves a small metallic implant that stays permanently buried and is essentially undetectable inside the toe bone. Elyria Podiatrist Dr. Roger Friedman says this usually leads to far less pain post-operatively and allows for a quicker return to everyday activities.
The underlying cause of hammertoes is not fully understood, but the general thinking is that it is partially caused by an imbalance between the flexor and extensor tendons and the way in which they function in the foot. In addition, hereditary factors may be involved as well as an associated lack of proper function of the small muscles of the foot in providing stability to the toes.
The basic procedure to correct a hammertoe involves lengthening or rebalancing any tendon irregularity and removing a small portion of bone from the toe to allow the to toe be straightened. In the past, a stainless steel "K-wire" pin would be placed to hold the toe straight during healing. This would require removal and because it stuck out from the end of the toe, required a person to wear a surgical shoe for up to 6 weeks until the pin was ready to be removed. Using the new technique, a small metallic implant is used which stays buried in the toe bone and permits a much quicker return to normal shoes.
For more information about this advanced technique, please call us at 440-934-8444 to schedule an appointment or use our Online Appointment Form. We treat patients from communities throughout Northeast Ohio including Amherst, Avon, Avon Lake, Wellington, LaGrange, Grafton, Oberlin, North Ridgeville, Sheffield Village, Oberlin, Lorain and Elyria. Our office is conveniently located just north of Lorain County Community College at 5321 Meadow Lane Court in Elyria, Ohio.
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