Dealing with a hammertoe or bunion? Could you benefit from corrective surgery?
Hammertoes and bunions are two of the most common foot deformities. The good news is that both can be managed through simple home care and lifestyle changes that our Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, and Niceville, FL, foot doctors, Dr. Cosimo Ricciardi and Dr. Neil Patel, would be happy to discuss with you. However, more severe cases require surgery to improve the function of the feet and get rid of severe, uncontrollable pain. If we’ve told you that hammertoe and bunion correction is right for you, here’s what you should know,
When Is Surgery Necessary?
The top reason people undergo hammertoe or bunion correction with our Fort Walton Beach, FL, podiatrists is pain. Mild bunion and hammertoe cases don’t typically cause persistent or life-changing pain and can often be managed with simple at-home care; however, when the pain becomes so severe that it impacts how the feet function and affects your day-to-day activities, this is when surgery could benefit you.
What Occurs With a Hammertoe Correction?
While there are several surgical techniques, the most common type is proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint arthroplasty. Our team will straighten the bones and fuse them during this procedure using a wire to stabilize them. The wire is removed about three to six weeks after the procedure once the bones have naturally fused together. This simple outpatient procedure usually takes less than one hour to perform.
How Are Bunions Corrected?
In the past, bunion surgery was a rather complex and extensive process, but thanks to advanced technology, our Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, and Niceville, FL, podiatrists offer arthroscopic bunion surgery. This procedure is less invasive than traditional bunion surgery, which means fewer pain and swelling and a faster recovery.
This procedure is also an outpatient procedure that can take as little as 45 minutes and up to several hours, depending on the severity of your bunion. Recovery from arthroscopic bunion surgery usually takes about six to eight weeks, compared to the twelve weeks of traditional bunion surgery.
If you want to learn more about hammertoe and bunion correction, our Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, and Niceville, FL, podiatrists Dr. Ricciardi or Dr. Patel would be happy to sit down with you to determine if this procedure is right for you and your foot health. Call Emerald Coast Podiatry at the Fort Walton office at (850) 862-4119 or the Crestview office at (850) 682-6522.