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Surgical Treatment
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Guidance Before SurgeryIs there a '' best-time-of-the-year '' for surgeryThis very much depends on what you plan to do with work or pastimes. Swelling is the side-effect which takes the most time to go away. So it is more convenient to get this surgery at the time of the year when the weather allows wearing sandals. On the other hand, as summer is short and a whole season of outdoor sports could be compromised by such surgery; there are folks who will want to do it in the springtime (skiers) or the fall (golfers). Older people who tend to stay indoors in the winter often prefer to have it done then. We do provide winter boot-like covers for post-operative sandals. Thus, everyone has his or her ideal moment for surgery. If you plan a hiking trip, you should allow for a solid four-month period after surgery and about the same for any sport. Of course, you could go much sooner to a warm-weather resort, as many patients plan this for convalescence. In the latter case, it is better to wait for two weeks after surgery, or four weeks if you need pins taken out. * Medications to stop for two weeks before surgery:
Hallux Valgus patients normally do not have pins protruding out of their foot. In exceptional cases (in the presence of osteoporosis, for instance), when there is no other way to mend the bone otherwise, pins may be used. If so, they will be very short and having it taken out does not hurt much at all. Planning Sick Leave Variable depending the type of work! Standing for 8 hours or mostly sitting... Ten weeks worth of sick leave if you must wear regular shoes, cannot wear the post-op sandal at work or do your job in a standing position. This can become 12 weeks if both feet are operated on. About two to four weeks worth of leave if you can wear the post-op sandal to work, you are mostly seated and can occasionally put your operated foot on a stool. The problem is often to get to work; to drive the car...if you have one foot surgery, most are able to use their right foot to drive 4 weeks after surgery. Left foot surgery with a standard car might be 5 weeks. In all cases you have cautious; better be on the safe side. Usually if you can hit the ground with your foot, you can drive your car. Convalescence after surgery on a single foot is way faster than when both feet are operated on at once. (It is pretty much as if you had a broken toe). One of your feet works fine and you are more autonomous. There is a myth whereby patients won’t come back to the surgeon for the other foot, but that is baseless, especially with the new procedures. Please note that if you have a major Hallux Valgus and the other metatarsals are also treated, complete healing will take longer. Normal secondary effects of foot (Hallux Valgus) surgery Oedema (swelling) of the foot, for several weeks, which will then fade away but still recur at night for a few months. Worst swelling is usually at 6 weeks! Why ? Because you are more on your feet trying do do a normal day. This swelling takes longer to abate in patients with varicose veins. Ankylosis (stiffness) of the big toe for several months. To lessen the problem you will be prescribed some moderate exercises to start after two weeks and will increase in intensity after four weeks. There are rare cases ( about 1 to 2 % ) of patients who may develop a capsulitis (too much internal scarring tissue or too tight internal scar. and they will see a physical therapist to make those tissues softer. In these cases recovry is quite long. It is even rarer to see cases of hypertrophic scarring.(outside scar) To be totally healed takes 1 year. I repeat takes 1 year ( as all bony surgery does) Rare Complications
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 © Dr André Perreault Phone: 514-387-3871 Email: | ||