Hammer toe repair: when to get help

1. 1

   Is any of this happening now?

   Call 911

   Call emergency services for chest pain, severe shortness of breath, coughing up blood, fainting, or another rapidly worsening medical emergency.

   Other emergency signs, for anyone

   • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
   • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
   • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
   • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
   • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
   • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
   • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
   • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
2. 2

   Is any of this happening?

   Be seen today

   Contact your surgical team promptly if you have increasing redness, warmth, drainage, wound opening, fever, or pain that is getting worse rather than improving.

   Seek urgent advice if the toe becomes pale, blue, unusually cold, or increasingly numb, or if the dressing feels dangerously tight.

   Also seek urgent assessment for new calf pain or one-sided leg swelling.

   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
3. 3

   Does any of this apply?

   Book an appointment

   Routine swelling, bruising, mild tenderness, and gradual changes in toe position should be discussed at your scheduled follow-up unless they suddenly worsen.

   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Hammer toe repair. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.