Metatarsalphalangel Joint Arthrodesis for MTP Joint Deformity Treatment in India

Diya Davis, a 58-year-old elementary school...

Diya Davis, a 58-year-old elementary school librarian, had always been active, but years of wearing fashionable but unsupportive shoes had taken a toll. For the past five years, she lived with a progressively worsening and painful bunion on her right foot, which had evolved into a severe hammertoe deformity of her second toe. The pain was constant, a sharp, burning sensation that made standing for story time or walking between bookshelves excruciating. Simple pleasures like a weekend stroll were now impossible. After trying orthotics, wider shoes, and anti-inflammatory medications with no lasting relief, her podiatrist referred her to an orthopedic surgeon. The surgeon explained that the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint in her second toe was irreparably damaged and dislocated, causing the hammertoe. He recommended a Metatarsalphalangeal Joint Arthrodesis, a fusion of the joint to correct the deformity, relieve pain, and provide a stable, functional toe. Diya was terrified of surgery but desperate for a solution. The procedure went smoothly. The initial recovery in a surgical boot was challenging, requiring patience and reliance on a knee scooter. However, by week eight, she was transitioning to supportive shoes. Six months post-op, the debilitating pain was gone. Her toe was straight and stable. She could stand all day at work and has even started taking gentle walks again. Emotionally, she journeyed from frustration and despair to cautious optimism and, finally, to profound relief and gratitude for regaining her mobility and independence.