Author: Foot Doc
Date: 4/24/2007 8:48 pm PDT
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I appreciate your expression of gratitude for my efforts. Certainly, you have my full blessings and permission to print out my post and take it with you to your appointment or anywhere else.
A routine, uncomplicated hammertoe surgery performed by any competent foot surgeon should take no more than 5 minutes or so, "skin to skin" (that means initial skin incision to final suture or closure). That does not include the time required for surgical prep of the foot, anesthetizing the toe and applying the post-operative dressing. Ordinarily, an hour of OR time is scheduled, and rarely is all of it used. The procedure certainly does not require anything other than local anesthesia. In fact all but the most complicated and lengthy of foot surgeries can very comfortably be performed under local, even without sedation. I ceased using general anesthesia for the vast majority of my surgical cases years ago. I rarely even use IV sedation, and my typical surgical patient has found the experience reasonably, if not completely pleasant, though I am fully aware that not every surgeon can manage patients in that manner. |
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