Hoffman-Clayton Procedure
In addition to pain and discomfort, rheumatoid arthritis may cause deformities of the foot including bunions, hammertoe, calluses and claw toes. When these deformities start to interfere with the function and use of the foot, surgery may be necessary to reconstruct the foot. The Hoffman-Clayton procedure is a surgical procedure that is performed to treat deformities of the foot, commonly caused by rheumatoid arthritis.
The Hoffman-Clayton procedure is performed to treat hammertoes and severe bunions by removing all of the metatarsal heads. This helps to eliminate the bony ends that often develop and adjusts the location of the weight-bearing surface on the bottom of the foot. By shortening the metatarsals, weight is shifted to an area of the foot with more support. This procedure may be performed in conjunction with other procedures such as fusion or arthroplasty, to treat other foot deformities.
Most patients experience significant pain relief, increased mobility, and an improved appearance of the foot after this procedure. Following the Hoffman-Clayton procedure, most patients do not require additional treatment for their condition.