Author: Foot Doc
Date: 3/6/2007 6:54 am PDT
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DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
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A hammertoe is a toe which generally has an extension contraction at the metatarsal toe joint and a flexion contraction at the proximal inter-phalangeal joint. The first consideration in selecting an appropriate surgery is whether or not the deformity fixed or is manually reducible at either or both joints. If it is manually reducible at both joints, then a soft tissue procedure (tenotomy, tendon lengthening, capsulotmy) procedure will often suffice. But if the deformity is not manually reducible, it is generally because the bones of one or more of the joints have subluxed, locking the deformity in place, and straightening the toes will almost always involve removal of some amount of bone. In certain situations a fusion procedure is appropriate, but in most cases it is not the best choice. Other than for the great toe, the most that is asked of toes is that they bend through a normal range of motion without pain, and I think it unlikely that a successful hammertoe surgery, even with bone removal should materially affect most dancing activities. But complications and less then desirable results are always a possibility with surgery or any form of medical treatment, so there can be no guarantees.
Among the bone surgery performed by podiatrists, hammertoe surgeries are among the most conservative and are generally both successful and well tolerate. Certainly, no one would have such a surgery if it were not needed, and surgery is always a trade off between what is and what should be better.
If you are not comfortable with your doctor's answers, then seek another opinion by hands-on evaluation. But choose your surgeon wisely for good MEDICAL reasons, and not simply because he seems to be a nice guy/gal. |
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