Metatarsal Osteotomy | Types of Foot Treatments | MedStar Health

A metatarsal osteotomy is a surgical procedure performed to treat a foot deformity. This surgery involves cutting the metatarsal bone of the big toe and realigning the bone to correct the deformity. Recovery takes one to two months, depending on the type of deformity being corrected and the type of surgery used to correct it. Most people can walk normally after the foot has healed.

MedStar Health’s dedicated center for foot and ankle treatment is known internationally for its comprehensive care for foot pain relief that helps you return to the activities you love.

In fact, Baltimore's best foot and ankle specialists are at MedStar Health. In your research, we're confident that our foot and ankle doctors will rise to the top. Drs. Guyton, Miller, Wisbeck, and Hembree average 4.7 stars, as reported by 945 patients (as of July 12, 2019).

Here you’ll find fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons and doctors who offer a wide range of surgeries for foot deformities, such as bunions and hammertoe, to complex foot treatments. And, our compassionate team is dedicated to research and innovation, ensuring you receive the most advanced care to improve and maintain healthy feet.

Related conditions

Bunion surgery & treatment

When you have big toe joint pain as a result of a painful bunion, your foot pain specialist may recommend starting with nonsurgical bunion treatment. Wearing roomier shoes or using protective pads to cushion your big toe may help to relieve the burning pain in your big toe.

However, if nonsurgical options don’t help, you may benefit from surgery. During bunion surgery, called a bunionectomy, foot surgeons will realign bone, ligaments, tendons, and nerves so the big toe can be brought back to its correct position. There are a few different surgical options for treating bunions, and all of them are designed to remove the bony bump and repair the bone structure and tissue in your foot. Your foot and ankle specialist will recommend a treatment plan based on your unique case.

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Calcaneal osteotomy

If you have a deformity in your foot or ankle, such as flatfoot, a calcaneal osteotomy will help to relieve pain, improve alignment and walking, and reduce the likelihood of arthritis. The calcaneus, or heel bone, plays an important role in walking. That’s why during a calcaneal osteotomy, a foot surgeon will cut the heel bone to move and secure it in a better location. After a calcaneal osteotomy, you can expect to return to your favorite activities within six months.

Flatfoot surgery & treatment

If you have flatfoot caused by the flattening of the arch in your foot, you may want relief for severe heel and ankle pain. Some nonsurgical treatments may provide relief, including rest, immobilization, shoe inserts, braces, and physical therapy. However, for long-lasting pain relief and improved walking ability, you may need surgery. During the procedure, foot surgeons will restore the arches in your feet, which will help improve the pressure on your feet as you stand and walk. Recovery can take six months to a year.

Foot arthritis treatment

Foot arthritis is easiest to treat in early stages when it’s possible to slow down the progression of arthritis. Treatment options may include anti-inflammatory medication, arch supports for your shoes, or physical therapy. In severe cases of foot arthritis, you may need surgery to reshape or replace the bones in the affected foot joint. Your foot specialist will work with you to develop a treatment plan that will work best for you.

Foot (Achilles) tendon reconstruction

Foot tendon reconstruction is a procedure to repair torn tendons, such as an Achilles heel tear. If you have a torn tendon in your foot, your foot physician will recommend a treatment option based on the severity of your tear. For less severe tears, you may just need sutures, or stitches, to repair the tear. If you have an intense tear, your doctor will use tendon tissue grafts, taken either from elsewhere in the leg or from a tissue bank, to reconstruct the torn tendon. After surgery, you will need to stay off of your foot for at least six weeks. Then, you’ll be able to begin walking with a boot on your foot.

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Achilles Tendon Tears and Injuries – Perspective from Dr. Walter Hembree

Foot fracture repair

Foot fractures can be diagnosed using imaging, such as X-rays. If you have a foot fracture, your foot physician will develop a treatment plan based on the severity of your injury. Nonsurgical treatment options may include a short cast or special shoe. If you have a more severe foot fracture, your foot doctor may recommend surgery, called open reduction internal fixation (ORIF), to get you back on your feet. During this procedure, a foot surgeon may use plates, screws, pins, staples, or tension bands to hold the bones in place. Physical therapy will be important for your recovery.

Hammertoe

A hammertoe is a deformity that causes a toe to become bent upward in the middle so it resembles a hammer. Hammertoes often occur in conjunction with other toe problems. Most patients who have hammertoes try to manage them by…

Metatarsal osteotomy

A metatarsal osteotomy is a surgical procedure performed to treat foot deformities, such as hammertoe. During metatarsal surgery, a foot surgeon will cut the metatarsal bone of the big toe and realign the bone to correct the deformity. Depending on your foot deformity and the type of procedure needed, you can expect to return to activity within two to three months. Most people can walk normally after the foot has healed.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome treatment

If you have tarsal tunnel syndrome, your foot specialist may recommend nonsurgical treatments, such as rest, elevation, massage, anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections, arch supports (orthotics), and/or better-fitting shoes. If conservative treatment does not provide relief, you may need foot surgery to relieve pressure in the tarsal tunnel. During this procedure, a foot surgeon will make an incision in the ligament located below the inside of the ankle, allowing room for the affected nerve to expand. Or, if a cyst is impinging on the nerve, it can be removed during surgery.