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Information About Hammer Toe & Bunion Surgery

A bunion is a progressive deformity in the joint attached to your big toe. A hammer toe is a downward curling of one or more toes. Arthritis in the affected joint can complicate either condition, and must be treated separately.

  1. Causes

    • Causes of hammer toe and bunions include heredity, flat feet, unstable ligaments and muscular imbalance.

    Treatments

    • The most effective treatment for both hammer toe and bunions is surgery, but consider non-surgical treatments first. These include exercises, wearing larger or wider shoes and using padding or orthotic shoe inserts.

    Surgery

    • Consider surgery if you have severe pain or joint stiffness that limits your activities, if you have chronic inflammation of the big toe or if the toe deformity is substantial.

    Types

    • There are a wide range of surgeries for hammer toe and bunions. According to ePodiatry.com, 85 percent to 90 percent of patients who have bunion surgery are satisfied with the outcome. Still, to avoid poor results, it is vital to choose the right type of surgery in consultation with your doctor.

    Considerations

    • Surgery is intended only to relieve pain and correct as much deformity as is realistic. Risks include infection and nerve damage. For bunion surgery, full recovery takes four to six weeks; for hammer toe, three to four weeks.

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