In this episode of The Pod Doctors podcast, Dr. Damien Dauphinee, a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon, and Dr. Raafae Hussain, fellowship trained foot and ankle surgeon, talk about hammer toes. They discuss what causes this cosmetic and physical problem, the three main reasons for hammer toe contractures and other associated problems. They also describe the most common treatment options from conservative to surgical treatments.

 QUOTES:

“There’s not a lot you can do conservatively to fix the hammer toe. You’re pretty much cushioning the problem.” - Dr. Raafae Hussain [19:10]

“They’re not just a cosmetic problem. They are a mechanical issue. There’s a hereditary component obviously with a lot of folks. But we’re able to address both the cosmetic aspect of it and the mechanical aspect of it, which is a nice win-win for the patient.” - Dr. Damien Dauphinee [38:31]

Top Takeaways:

• What is a hammer toe?
• Why are hammer toes a problem?
• What do the Pod Doctors look for in clinical exams?
• What causes a hammer toe?
• Three main reasons for hammer toe contractures
• Associated problems with hammer toes
• Treatment options

What You Will Learn:

• [00:40] Intro
• [02:07] What is a hammer toe
• [03:19] Why are hammer toes a problem
• [09:12] What do the Pod Doctors look for in clinical exams
• [09:48] What causes a hammer toe
• [13:08] Associated problems
• [13:53] Most common treatment options
• [24:28] Surgical options
• [31:26] Additional procedures
• [35:34] Recovery for hammer toe surgery

Resources:

Visit our website: https://thepoddoctors.com/

Book Mentioned: Saving Limbs, Saving Lives: Advanced Treatments for Preventing Amputations in Diabetic Populations by Dr. Damien Dauphinee