Mercer-Ocean Podiatry, PC

Our feet withstand a lot. They hold up the full weight of our bodies and propel us forward. It’s important that we take care of our feet so that they can last us our lifetimes with little complication. Common toe deformities such as claw toe, hammertoe, and mallet toe can all be prevented if we treat our feet right. We at Mercer-Ocean Podiatry, PC in New Jersey are dedicated to helping our patients find relief and educating them about how they can prevent future toe deformities.    Claw toe, hammertoe, and mallet toe: it almost sounds like we’re going through a toolbox. But the names do lend to the visual abnormality of these deformities, as well as the discomfort. Most of the time, surgery will be required to completely correct these deformities. The tissue will need to be released and tendons will need to be lengthened.    A closer look at the common toe deformities:   - Claw toe: This deformity is caused by one of the tendons in the foot contracting, raising the first bone in the t...

Fractured ankles require professional examination and care, but they often heal well. When a person suffers an ankle injury, we at Mercer-Ocean Podiatry are ready to assist them with every stage of their recovery. We find that patients are less daunted when they have an idea of what to expect, so we wanted to explain a bit about what a fracture is and what we do. The ankle is where the tibia, fibula, and talus bones meet. Any of them may have a stress fracture or a major break. A minor fracture may only require brief immobilization. A brace boot or even a high-top sneaker may protect and reinforce the ankle while it heals over a few weeks. But if imaging tests indicate that the break is severe, the patient may have to undergo surgery. Either way, they will need to keep their weight off the ankle. Surgery would be necessary if the gap between the bones is too wide for us to be confident that they’ll knit back together, if a fragment of bone is floating freely, or if the bones have shift...

When patients require surgery, we at Mercer-Ocean Podiatry provide compassionate assistance. Swelling is to be expected following surgery—it’s an important part of the immune response. But we know patients will be more at ease if they are aware of what to expect, and if something does go wrong, we want them to know to contact us. RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) is the standard care protocol following surgery. Recovery time will vary but can be expected to take at least a few weeks. During this time, patients should avoid putting any weight on their affected foot, even to put it on the floor. They should try to keep it at a higher elevation than their heart. At some point, they will transfer from a cast to a brace, if they weren’t in one to start. It is important with either for the bandages to remain dry. Putting ice in a water-tight sleeve will prevent moisture from leaking. Neither cold packs nor hot packs should be pressed against the skin for more than fifteen minutes ...