Toe Lengthening Surgery

Toe-lengthening surgery is a cosmetic foot procedure that involves lengthening the toes to create a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. The procedure typically involves making a small incision in the toe and inserting an implant to add length. The recovery process can take several weeks and may require limited weight-bearing activities. Toe-lengthening surgery is not recommended for individuals with certain medical conditions or those who have a history of foot problems. Read on to learn more, or contact our teams today for any of your foot and ankle issues!

In these high tech times we live in so many advances in medical science have come to light to alleviate human suffering and pain and elevate self esteem.

This is no more clearly illustrated than in the world of podiatry and the cutting edge foot and ankle surgical procedures performed by our very own, Dr. Abraham Wagner ,and his gifted staff.

Correcting abnormally short toes via toe lengthening is only one of their many highly successful foot and ankle procedures.

Understanding The Need For Toe Lengthening

By nature, our toes are made for walking, and are of different sizes because they permit balance and weight distribution.

This cosmetic procedure corrects an abnormally short toe, which is also known as a floating toe.

This can occur for a number of reasons, including genetics and trauma.

It is known to affect more women than men and sometimes occurs in those afflicted with Down Syndrome. It is usually first noticed in early childhood during bone development.

The technical name for toe lengthening is known as bracymetatarsia, and it can be defined as a disorder that arrests the growth process of the metatarsal bone that occurs while all surrounding bones develop normally.

It most often occurs on the fourth toe, and surrounding toes can also be affected.

If the short toe rests higher on the foot, these digits can be forced to curl under the affected toe, making it impossible to wear shoes that fit comfortably.

The Benefits of Toe Lengthening Surgery

Aesthetically, this procedure results in a more balanced and attractive toe structure. 

There is also a restoration of normal foot function and an alleviation of discomfort caused by overlapping or crowded toes.

Psychologically, toe lengthening can influence confidence, self esteem and body image issues.

Realistic customization for the desired outcome must be discussed during an initial consultation with the specialists at JAWS Podiatry.

The surgeon must make a judgment call and a personalized surgical plan based on a patient’s unique foot structure and aesthetics.

Ultimately, all of these factors result in increased daily activity and a better quality of life.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The experts at Jaw Podiatry can easily identify a short toe by means of a visual examination.

They are sympathetic to the fact that  people affected by this condition are most often  embarrassed and constantly hide their feet or avoid  being seen in shoes that would reveal their presence.

The focus of surgery is to restore the length of the metatarsal bone. Depending the severity of the case at hand, there are several surgical options.

These include: lengthening with a bone graft, sliding bone cut and/or gradual lengthening. More on each follows below.

Sliding Bone-Cut Lengthening

This procedure is often favored in very mild cases and it is the least performed option of the three.

The surgeon makes a careful angled cut to the metatarsal bone by shifting the other cut bones onto one another.

Bone Graft Lengthening

A structural bone graft is inserted into the short bone to achieve the ideal toe length.

Although it does have its limits, the experts at JAWS Podiatry determine the length of the graft on the basis of the length required to complete the procedure.

This surgical method is specifically limited to one toe and one centimeter of lengthening. A bone plate and screws remain in the foot that serve as stabilizers for  the bone graft.

Brachymetatarsia External Fixator Lengthening

By far the most popular method employed for all amounts of bone length, this strategy concerns making a specific bone-cut and inserting an external fixator, which will serve to stretch the bone over time.

The patient must aid this surgery by turning the device four times a day.

This will stretch the bone until the desired length is reached, at which point the device will then be removed.

Preparation And Recovery

We understand the potential risks and complications associated with toe lengthening surgery and they will discuss these at length with patients as well as address any other pre surgical questions that may arise.

As is the case with any surgery, there are inherent risks, including infection, bleeding, scarring, nerve damage, and dissatisfaction with the results.

The surgeon will also provide instructions, which may include fasting, stopping medications for a certain time before surgery and arranging for a ride home afterwards. 

There is usually little if any pain associated with two lengthening surgery because both the incision and the procedure are minimally invasive.

Anti-inflammatory medication can effectively treat any pain that may arise.

Full recovery time depends upon the particular surgery performed and how short the toe was originally, but is generally estimated to range from six to eight weeks.

In some instances involving a fixator, wearing a cast that must be worn for up to three months may be recommended. 

Choosing a Skilled Surgeon For Toe Lengthening Surgery

Minimally invasive procedures are becoming more and more common in podiatry. 

The many advances in medical science have brought about cutting edge innovations that our teams rely on every day.

The success of any surgery is dependent on the skills of the chosen surgical staff. 

Our teams at Jaws Podiatry firmly believe that no one should ever have to live with foot pain or permit an issue involving feet to interfere with the precious quality of life.

Headed by South Florida’s highly acclaimed Dr. Abraham Wagner (DPM), we specialize in surgical procedures for patents living anywhere throughout the United States and beyond.

We offer customized treatments to accommodate our patients and their particular needs.

We understand the fact that no two feet are ever alike, and our tender touch and focus is always on providing a positive outcome and recovery experience.

If you are suffering from foot pain of any kind, din’t waste any more time.

Please contact us today at (954) 922-7333 or schedule a consultation.

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