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Minimally Invasive Hammertoe Surgery
Have toes that resemble little hammers or claws? Hammertoes (and cousins like mallet or claw toes) can cause corns, irritation, and shoe struggles. Traditional surgery meant long incisions, external pins, and lengthy downtime. Our Minimally Invasive Hammertoe Surgery (MIS) straightens toes through tiny incisions with less pain, faster recovery, and virtually no visible hardware—so you can go from crooked to confident.
What Is a Hammertoe—and Why Does It Happen?
Definition & Symptoms
- Hammertoe: Bend at the middle joint (usually toes 2–4).
- Mallet toe: Bend at the tip joint.
- Claw toe: Bends at both joints; toe curls under.
- Common issues: corns/calluses on top or tip, ball-of-foot pain, shoe irritation.
Causes & Risk Factors
- Tight or narrow footwear and high heels.
- Muscle–tendon imbalance; flat feet or other biomechanical issues.
- Bunions pushing the 2nd toe out of position.
- Genetics, arthritis, neuromuscular conditions, diabetes.
Conservative care: Roomy shoes, pads/splints, and orthotics can ease symptoms. If a toe becomes rigid or remains painful, a procedure offers definitive straightening.
Traditional vs. Minimally Invasive Hammertoe Repair
Traditional (Open) Approach
- Larger incision over the toe.
- Bone resection/fusion with external K-wire pin for weeks.
- More soft-tissue disruption → more swelling and downtime.
Minimally Invasive (MIS) Approach
- Tiny 2–3 mm incisions with fine burrs and instruments.
- Often internal implants or no visible hardware.
- Less pain, minimal scarring, faster recovery, better cosmetics.
Common MIS Techniques
- Percutaneous tenotomy/capsulotomy: Releases tight tendons/capsule for flexible deformities.
- MIS arthroplasty/fusion (PIP joint): Tiny bone reshaping to straighten rigid toes; stabilized internally or with a short-term buried pin.
- Combo procedures: Frequently paired with bunion correction—often all done minimally invasively.
The Procedure: What to Expect
- Anesthesia: Usually a local toe block; light sedation if desired or combined with other procedures.
- Tiny incisions: One or two 2–3 mm openings to release tendons and/or reshape bone.
- Correction & stabilization: Toe is straightened; internal device or taping/splinting supports alignment.
- Dressing & shoe: Buddy tape/splint plus a stiff-soled post-op shoe for protection.
Why You’ll Love Minimally Invasive Hammertoe Repair
- Little to no visible hardware: No pin sticking out of the toe in most cases.
- Less pain & swelling: Minimal soft-tissue disruption.
- Quicker recovery: Heel/flat-foot walking in a protective shoe right away; regular shoes often by 4–6 weeks (procedure-dependent).
- Cosmetic & footwear wins: Toes lie flatter; shoes fit without rubbing.
- Durable results: Proper tendon balancing and joint correction reduce recurrence.
Post-Op Tips & Typical Course
- Elevate & ice for 2–3 days to limit swelling.
- Weight-bearing: Walk in the surgical shoe as directed; avoid forefoot pressure early on.
- Keep tape/splint in place until follow-up; don’t “test” bend the toe.
- Pain control: Usually OTC meds after the first 48–72 hours.
- Footwear: Transition to roomy sneakers around 3–6 weeks once cleared.
- Activity: Desk work in days to a week; impact sports when X-ray shows healing (~6–8 weeks).
- Watch for issues: Excess redness, misalignment, or drainage—call us.
Step Out with Straight Toes
Hammertoes can hurt and feel embarrassing—but modern MIS techniques make correction simpler and smoother. Dr. Patish focuses on alignment that looks good and works well, so you can return to comfortable shoes and confident steps. Give your toes a treat—contact us. We’ll evaluate your toes, discuss options and recovery, and answer every question so you can decide with confidence.