This surgery shortens one of your metatarsals. These bones are in your foot at the base of your toes. We do this surgery to treat a condition called "claw toe." We also use it to treat pain in the ball of the foot.
To begin, we give you medicine to make you feel relaxed and numb. You may be put to sleep. We make an incision to reach the joint at the base of your toe.
Now it's time to shorten the metatarsal. First, we use an angled cut to free the end of this bone. This lets us slide the free part along the surface of the bone. Then we secure it in this new position, giving the toe more space. Finally, we trim away excess bone.
When it's done, we close and bandage your skin. You can expect to wear a cast or brace during the healing process. Follow your care plan for a safe recovery.