What are the pros and cons to big toe Fusion?
The main advantage of a fusion is that it’s a permanent correction, eliminating the arthritis and pain. The disadvantage is the restriction of movement of the big toe. The stiff joint, however, does not significantly affect the way that you walk.
Can I run with a fused big toe?
Obviously, the stiffness of your toe may affect your ability to play sport, but most people can run, swim and cycle as much as they were doing beforehand within six months of surgery. Full recovery typically takes 4-6 months.
What can go wrong with a toe Fusion?
Nerve Injury or Numbness Sensory nerves around the big toe can occasionally be bruised or damaged during the surgery. This can give you an area of numbness on the back or one side of the big toe. In most instances this resolves over a few weeks however on occasions it may be permanent.
Is there an alternative to toe Fusion?
Cartiva synthetic cartilage implants are a revolutionary type of surgery that provide an alternative to joint fusion for advanced big toe arthritis. In a short 35-minute procedure, the damaged cartilage in your big toe joint is replaced with an innovative type of synthetic cartilage that behaves like natural cartilage.
How does big toe fusion affect walking?
A big toe fusion makes your big toe stiff. It will limit the heel height you can wear on your shoes, usually a maximum of a one-inch heel. A big toe fusion may alter the way you walk, but most people do not have a limp after it has fully healed.
Can you reverse a big toe Fusion?
To improve patient’s quality of life, some surgeons have performed an “unfusion” procedure where they remove the fusion plate, separate the fused bones, then prepare the joint surfaces to implant a ToeMotion. Following this procedure, patients can expect to bend their toe again and regain a more natural movement.
Is there an alternative to a toe Fusion?
Hasselman: Current alternatives to fusion include interpositional arthroplasty, where a piece of tendon is placed between the metatarsal head and proximal phalanyx to act as a cushion. This often can alleviate some of the pain from arthritis but does not always improve motion.
Can I wear high heels after big toe Fusion?
Once fusion is successful, you will be able to wear most shoes (but not necessarily all types and generally not more than a 2 inch/5 cm high heel. There are no limits to the amount of type of exercise activities allowed subsequently.
What is the recovery time for big toe fusion?
Your toe should be fused and the wound healed around four to six weeks after surgery. Two to three months after your operation, you should be able to return to all of your usual activities and sports, although some mild swelling may remain for up to twelve months.
What can I do after big toe fusion surgery?
After fusion surgery, the big toe joint will not move. The plate and/or screws usually do not need to be removed. Going Home: Arrange to have someone take you home after surgery, even if you are taking a taxi Care of your Incision & Wound: Do not remove dressings. Your surgeon will change the
What is the recovery time for toe fusion surgery?
Broken hardware
What is big toe joint fusion?
Fusion of the hallux MTP joint: what is it? This operation is designed to glue (fuse) the big toe knuckle together. It is also called an arthrodesis of the big toe metatarsophalangeal joint. This is a very commonly performed operation for arthritis and deformity of the big toe joint. Once fused, the big toe does not move except at the end joint.