| Hammer Toe
A condition, usually stemming from muscle imbalance, in which the toe is bent in a claw-like position. It occurs most frequently with the second toe, often when a bunion slants the big toe toward and under it, but any of the other three smaller toes can be affected. Selecting shoes and socks that do not cramp the toes will alleviate aggravation.
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Bunions
Misaligned big toe joints which can become swollen and tender, causing the first joint of the big toe to slant outward, and the second joint to angle toward the other toes. Bunions tend to be hereditary, but can be aggravated by shoes that are too narrow in the forefoot and toe. |
Northbay Foot & Ankle utilizes the above procedures but also prides itself in correcting the problem with the least amount of invasion whenever possible. Many times a simple tenotomy or capsulotomy will straighten a digit; or a minimum incision exostectomy combined with a tenotomy may achieve the desired correction.
We perform these procedures right in our own Surgicenter utilizing our specialized foot instrumentation. Surgical correction of digits is generally for better function, but sometimes it is a cosmetic problem. We'll never forget when we removed the surgical bandages on a gentleman's baby toe that had been sitting up on top of his foot for years. He cried with disbelief that his crooked toe, which had plagued him for years, was now straight. Digital work can be both demanding and rewarding.
Click to make an appointment if you wish us to evaluate your toes.
Sesamoiditis
Sometimes known as the "ball bearings of the foot," the sesamoids are two small bones found beneath the first metatarsal. They can inflame or rupture under the stress of exercise. Sesamoiditis can be relieved with proper shoe selection and orthoses.
We refer to sesamoiditis as the Dancer's Disease since dancers are prone to injuring this bone. Sesamoids are two small bones located just beneath the Great toe, in the ball of the foot. There are small ligaments associated with these bones that become inflamed with overuse. Most treatment is designed around decreasing the inflammation with physical therapy and off loading the area in gait with an accommodative orthotic (shoe insert). For dancers and ballerinas, we fabricate a specialized splint that can be worn in their dance shoes to accommodate this problem. Those bones that do not respond to conservative treatment are removed with no loss of function.
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Surgery by a podiatric physician is frequently recommended to correct the problem.XXXXXXXXXXXXX 
Northbay Foot & Ankle performs most of these Bunion procedures in their Petaluma Surgicenter, which is equipped for bunion correction using minimum incision techniques. With the use of a small side cutting burr and Xiscan Flurorscopy, many bunions are corrected with only small incisions similar to those employed in Arthroscopic work. While these techniques may not be suitable for all our work, we employ them whenever possible.
No two bunions are exactly the same. Therefore, we customize each procedure to achieve the best anatomical correction and restoration of function, with the least amount of trauma and a quick return to activity. Most of our bunion patients are back in conventional shoes within two weeks. We feel strongly about returning patients to street shoes as early as possible as well as an early return to normal activities.
Make an appointment for a free bunion consultation. If you are scheduled to have a procedure somewhere else and would like a second opinion, bring in your X-rays and we will be happy to discuss your options.
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