10 Life-Changing Benefits of Brachymetatarsia Surgery

These five long bones are located in the middle of the human foot and are numbered 1 to V ranging from the big toe and moving to the outer edge of the foot.  

Metatarsal bones share a similar structure that consists of a head, neck, shaft and base and they strengthen the arches of the foot, which is essential to both walking and weight bearing.

Where these bones connect to other bones (articulation), they become joints and serve to stabilize movement and support of the skeletal system.

What Causes Metatarsal Malfunction?

This condition can be congenital or acquired. Sometimes only one factor is responsible for the need for surgery, but most often,.several issues are at work. 

This condition manifests itself as pain and inflammation in the ball of the foot. 

Causes can include: foot deformities; ill-fitting footwear like high heels or shoes with thin soles; stress fractures caused by high impact activities, and certain medical conditions such as; obesity; aging; Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Diabetes and Gout.

Bunions, hammer toes, or a longer second toe than the big toe can increase stress on the metatarsal and negatively affect bio-mechanical movement.

Symptoms indicating trouble and the possible need for surgery include: numbness or tingling in the toes; piercing or burning pain in the ball of the foot; pain that worsens when standing, flexing the feet and walking, especially barefoot on a hard surface, which makes the pain much worse.

Resting and remaining off the feet can alleviate the pain.

Left untreated, the pain can spread to other parts of the foot or to the other foot (or others, if you happen to be so strangely endowed).

Limping which usually occurs, can also lead to pain in other body parts, such as the lower back or hip. 

10 Surprising Benefits of Brachymetatarsia Surgery

Brachymetatarsia surgery offers life-changing benefits, enhancing foot appearance, function, and comfort while boosting confidence.

Here are 10 surprising advantages of this transformative procedure.

1. Improved Foot Appearance – This surgery is designed to lengthen the metatarsal bone, which serves to create a more natural and balanced appearance. Fo those self conscious about their feet, this procedure can improve self esteem and confidence.
2. Better Foot Function – This process serves to restore proper weight distribution across the foot, which in turn helps to improve both balanced and gait. 
3. Pain Relief – This surgery relieves the discomfort and pain of calluses and corns, which are caused by the uneven pressure on surrounding toes or the foot.
4. Shoes Are More Comfortable – Pain disappears after lengthening the affected toe because patients can now wear many kinds of shoes like sandals and open toe styles. Not only is it more comfortable to walk, it also eliminates embarrassment in public places. 
5. Quicker Recovery Time – This surgery replaces older techniques involving time-consuming external fixators. Weight-bearing exercises are endorsed whenever possible, which enables patients to return to normal life of activities much sooner.
6. Minimally-Invasive Options – JAWS Podiatry is a cutting edge facility that features the most advanced techniques available in the world of podiatric medicine. They use small incisions and implants, which reduce the rate of scarring and tissue damage.
7. Reduced Risk of Developing Secondary Issues – This surgery is preventive as well as pro-active. It is known to limit the incidence of complications such as: stress fractures, joint pain, or problems in adjacent toes due to pressure.
8. Customized Treatment – The number one priority at JAWS Podiatry is to streamline any procedure so that it absolutely tailors the specific needs of the patient.This ensures the best outcome possible for varying degrees of toe lengthening.
9. Improved Psychological Well-Being – This surgery taps into psychological factors such as self esteem issues and social anxiety. This is especially true for young women who may seek to avoid the embarrassment of showing their feet in public.
10. 10. Long-Term Success – With proper care and guidance, the correction of the metatarsal length provides permanent functional and aesthetic improvement.

What is Brachymetatarsia Surgery?

This procedure lengthens a short metatarsal bone.

There are two stages that can be performed and both meet the needs of improving foot function and appearance.

Also known as toe lengthening and “salvage surgery,” they involve either a bone graft or external fixation, which utilizes a device that gradually lengthens the bone over time. (Perhaps not so suited for the more impatient among us).

The amount of lengthening is variable, and usually falls between 10 to 12 millimeters (3/8th of an inch to almost 1/2inch).

What Is The Bone Graft Process?

With the bone graft method, which is preferred for shorter length disparities, the short metatarsal bone is cut, and a bone graft (either from the patient or a donor) is inserted to lengthen the bone.

Grafts derived from the patient are known as autografts, which use tissue from the patient’s own body.

This process increases the chances for successful fusion although the amount of tissue that can be amassed is very limited.

Allografts utilize bone tissue from a donor. The tissue is sanitized under rigorous conditions to ensure recipient safety. 

Over time, the graft material fuses with nearby bone tissue.

Post operative care requires the wearing of an orthopedic boot for six to eight weeks, which allows time for proper healing of the bones and the ability to bear weight on the heel of the foot.

After this initial period, the patient can usually wear their own sneakers and then at about 3 months, when the bone is consolidated and healed, the patient can fully bear weight on the foot.

The graft completely integrates within 8 to 16 weeks and successful results are cited at about 90%.

External fixation requires a device that is attached to the foot with pins and screws and can be adjusted as the bone gradually lengthens over time.

This helps to restore proper alignment and function of the foot.

Healing takes longer than with a bone graft, but it is the preferred method employed by the masters at JAWS Podiatry for greater length variations (more than 1 centimeter) .

Contact Jaws Podiatry for 

We have clients who hail from all across the nation and globe, but we are situated in Hollywood, Florida, and specialize in surgical procedures for patients living in the United States and beyond.

Headed by South Florida’s highly acclaimed podiatrist, Dr Abraham Wagner, our cutting edge lower extremity center is staffed with experts who understand the relentless and excruciating nature of foot pain.

Each new patient is both a gift and a challenge, for not even identical twins always have feet that are completely the same.

We are deeply connected to every procedure we perform for every patient and are dedicated to providing the support and guidance needed for them to return to their feet and a life of normalcy as soon as possible.

No matter where you may call home, do not hesitate to contact us if you are living with foot pain. Life is too short to suffer, and we are always here to lend a helping hand (or in this case, foot).