All of the surgery we perform on the forefoot is done under local anaesthesia, a so-called foot block. Previously the foot was numbed by injecting a local anesthetic around the toes that were to undergo surgery. This was quite painful and has probably contributed to some people being hesitant to consider surgery. Nowadays the anaesthetic is done with a small injection below the inner ankle joint and two injections in the instep. Because the needles are very thin, not much is felt and the local anesthetic is nothing to worry about.
All surgery on the foot is carried out with the area empty of blood; a blood pressure cuff is placed above the ankles and inflated. In this way blood is prevented from coming down into the foot, which facilitates the operation itself. The patient may feel some discomfort at first but quickly gets used to it. After surgery, you may put your full weight on the foot as you are able. However, plan on being picked up or travelling by taxi. You cannot drive home yourself.
All foot surgery patients are offered a post-operative shoe for purchase. Most patients use it for about six weeks, after which people can often use a broken-in shoe, preferably a few sizes too big.
If the bandage becomes loose or gets wet through, it can be changed as necessary. The stitches are removed 2-3 weeks after the operation either by us or by the district nurse. In some operations metal pins are used to hold the toe in place during healing. The pin(s) protrude through the skin. They rarely result in any discomfort and are easily and painlessly removed during your return visit after about 5 weeks. The length of sick leave between different operations varies and naturally with the job you have. With an job that involves walking, about 6 weeks of sick leave are usually required. In all surgery on the feet, you can expect swelling afterwards. Usually the swelling subsides within a few months, but in individual cases some swelling persists for up to a year after surgery.
You must bear in mind that surgery always involves some risk. There may be an infection or other complication that means that the foot does not get better or even gets worse than it was before the surgery. The risks are small but you should have real difficulties before deciding on surgery. More than 90% of people are satisfied with the operation.
