Can you Shorten the Big Toe?

When we talk about toe shortening in our practice, we almost always are referring to the smaller toes.  Patients more often develop corns, pain, and hammertoes on the lesser toes from them being too long in their shoes.  Occasionally, however, sometimes patients ask if they can shorten the big toe.

Of course we can!  

The big toe is too long usually due to genetics.  Patients can get the same symptoms to the big toe as they do the smaller toes when they are too long.  By shortening the big toe we can reduce pain in shoes, corns, or keep them from hammering.  

Toe shortening recovery for the big toe is similar to when we do toe shortening to the smaller toes.  Surgery is done under twilight anesthesia, where we remove a section of bone through an incision of the side of the foot.  If you have a bunion, we also can correct this at the same time.  After we remove the section of bone we use pins to hold it in place.  These pins are buried underneath the skin, and do not stick out of your foot.  After your toe is done healing, we remove the pins under local anesthesia usually in between 8 and 12 weeks after surgery.  During that time you may not run, jump, or walk for exercise.  You are able to stand and walk for limited amounts of time, and you do not necessarily need crutches.  Patients are usually able to get into a gym shoe after three weeks.  

Cosmetically, when we shorten any toe, a full cosmetic result takes 6 months to 1 year.  Our best photos in our gallery are all taken at about that time after surgery.  

If toe shortening or bunion surgery is something you are interested in, please reach out for a consultation by visiting the “contact us” link on our website at footfirst.com.

What are Corns?

What are corns, and how do those ugly things get on our toes?  Can’t you just cut them out?

Corns are small calluses that form on top of toes or in between toes.  They are hard, and can be painful when they rub against each other or in shoes.  The calluses can be trimmed down or padded so they don’t hurt as much, but why do they keep coming back?  The cause of these little nuisances is usually deeper than the corn itself.  Corns occur and keep coming back, because there is an underlying deformity to the toe that it is on.  

A hammertoe is the number one cause of how a corn can form.  A hammertoe is when the toe becomes permanently bent over time.  This can happen with genetics, aging, or because a bunion is pushing the toe.  Where the toe bends down, it rubs on the tops of shoes.  This constant rubbing produces a callus, and eventually a deep corn.  

Another very common cause for corns is the toe is too long.  Similar to hammertoes, when a toe is too long it buckles when it goes into a shoe.  Where it buckles, or bends, the shoe rubs and creates the corn.  

Sometimes a corn is caused, because a person has a lump on the bone.  When a patient has a lump on the side of their toe, that causes corns in between the toes.  

To fix a corn, the underlying problem with the toe must be corrected, or it will just keep coming back.  

If a patient has a hammertoe we correct the underlying issue by straightening the toe.  If the toe is too long, we shorten the toe.  This prevents the toe from rubbing on the top of the patient’s shoe and the corn can eventually heal on its own.  If the patient has a bony prominence, we will file the bone down so it stops rubbing.  

We try never to cut a corn off of the toe, because it can leave a scar.  We want the corns to subside on their own so when the patient is done healing there are no visible scars, and no one can tell that surgery was even done!

Some corns are difficult to cure.  Corns are more stubborn if a patient smokes cigarettes.  Smoking cigarettes has a negative effect on the tiny vessels that keep skin soft and healthy.  We often see that cigarette smokers have a harder time healing corns even if surgery is done.  Another cause of stubborn corns is genetics.  Some patients are genetically predisposed to making calluses, and that will also make it harder for them to heal.  Lastly, if the corn has been present for many many years, then it will make it harder for the surgery to be as successful. 

If you would like to schedule a consultation because you have ugly corns, please reach out through our website at www.footfirst.com, on Instagram at footfirstpod or call 847-352-9221.

Recovery with The Sklar Bunionectomy®

So you just had the Sklar Bunionectomy®, what happens next?

Day 0: Immediate Post Sklar Bunionectomy®

Day 0

After our patients have bunion surgery in our state of the art surgical suite, our patients can expect to walk out of surgery pain free in a surgical shoe to their ride home.  When at home a patient can expect to be independent, and are not required to have someone at home with them.  Most patients should sit with their surgical foot elevated for most of the day, but they can get up to make a snack, go to the restroom, or do other small household activities.  

Week 1: Post Sklar Bunionectomy®

Week 1 

Our patients typically begin to experience some pain about 24 hours after having surgery.  We send our patients home with a pain pill, which should make them feel comfortable during that time.  While they are on the pain pill driving is not permitted, however they still can move about as needed.  The pain usually subsides in about three days, and as soon as they come off their pain pill we allow them to drive to their desk jobs.  

Week 2-3

In between two and three weeks we evaluate a patient’s incision to see if their sutures may be removed.  Once we remove the sutures then they may get their foot wet in a shower, and start to wear a recommended gym shoe.  Patients are still to avoid aerobic activity.  Patients at this point usually start to turn a corner in regards to how their foot feels.  Lots of our patients tell us that they are having minimal pain at this point, but their foot is still swollen and may have some nerve sensations like tingling or burning.  

Week 6: Post Sklar Bunionectomy®

Weeks 6-9

Depending on the severity of a patient’s bunion and how they are healing we may allow an increase in activity during this time.  Most patients are able to start with an elliptical or bicycle as soon as 6 weeks.  At 8-9 weeks we typically allow patients to resume their normal activity, like jogging, exercise classes, walking long distances, and dress shoes.  

Week 16: Post Sklar Bunionectomy®

Weeks 12-16

This is another time where our patients seem to tell us that they are turning another corner.  The exercise activities they may have started a few weeks ago have become more normal feeling and comfortable.  Swelling and numbness starts to subside, and strength begins to return to the toes and foot.  Full healing takes six to eighteen months, so from this point on patients will continue to experience improvements to their feet.  We post our best “after” photos usually 6 months to 1 year after surgery, so we don’t expect a full cosmetic result until that point.  

Before and After: The Sklar Bunionectomy®

For additional information or to see how the Doctors at Foot First can drastically transform the look and feel of your feet, check out our before and afters at www.FootFirst.com or on Instagram @FootFirstPod.