Post Op Shoes - What is a post op shoe for?

DARCO Post Op shoes enable patients to stay active while recovering from foot injuries and surgeries.
DARCO's Most Popular Post Op Shoes

What are post op shoes?

Post op shoes, also known as surgical shoes or medical shoes, are designed to minimize harmful bending motions associated with walking and bearing weight on the foot. They also feature highly adjustable strapping systems, which enable the shoe to accommodate swelling and bandaging that could not fit inside a normal shoe. Additionally, these shoes can offer pressure reduction benefits that promote healing and comfort while on your feet. The primary benefit of post op shoes is enabling a patent to remain mobile and protected while recovering from a variety of toe and forefoot injuries.

What types of conditions can post op shoes help treat?

Post op shoes are specifically designed to protect and support the foot while healing from a variety of injuries affecting the toes, forefoot, and midfoot. Some common examples of injuries and surgeries for which clinicians prescribe post op shoes include:
  • Broken toes
  • Metatarsal Fractures
  • Bunionectomy, or bunion correction surgery
  • Hammertoe correction surgery

Are post op shoes a good solution for diabetic foot ulcers?

Due to the potential risks and high degree of variability associated with diabetic foot ulcers, we recommend working with a clinician to develop an appropriate treatment plan. DARCO Direct cannot dispense medical advice. If you are looking for more information about diabetic foot care, we recommend reading resources available through the American Diabetes Association and speaking with your doctor. If you are interested in using a DARCO shoe to offload a diabetic wound, we recommend talking with your clinician to determine if a DARCO shoe might be the right solution for you. DARCO offers a full line of offloading shoes and walkers designed to improve offloading at the wound site. You and your clinician can determine what footwear solution is most appropriate based on the size and severity of your diabetic ulcer. Click here to view DARCO’s full line of wound offloading shoes and footwear.

What makes post op shoes different from regular shoes?

Post-op shoes are typically designed with features to ensure proper healing and comfort. They feature the following characteristics not typically seen in regular footwear:
  • Rigid sole: The sole of a post-op shoe is intentionally designed to resist bending motion in order to prevent any harmful stress on the injury site.
  • Adjustable closures: Adjustable straps are designed to accommodate swelling and bandaging.
  • Soft protective upper shell: Post op shoe uppers are made from a soft, padded material to safeguard the surgical site or injured area and prevent skin irritation.

How do I know if I need a square-toe or round-toe style?

Post-op shoes can be found in square toe and round toe designs. The toe shape selected is often a matter of preference by the user. The square-toe design is intended to serve as a “bumper” to protect the toe in the event of an accidental collision into an object while walking, such as a piece of furniture. The round-toe design does not offer the same “bumper” protection, but they can be potentially easier to walk in if a user has concerns or issues with balance and walking. Click here to view DARCO’s full line of square toe and round toe post op shoes.

What activities can I do in post op shoes? What should I avoid?

Post op shoes are intended to allow users to remain ambulatory during the healing process. They are designed to enable users to walk short distances and bear weight on the injured foot. While these shoes do allow patients to remain ambulatory, patients should not use the shoes to drive, exercise, and walk far distances. You should also avoid bathing in the shoe. When engaging in non-weight bearing activities, such as resting or sleeping, your post-op shoe may be removed. However, you must remember to put the shoe back on as soon as you begin bearing weight on the injured foot for any amount of time to protect the injury, surgical site, or wound.

Do I have to wear a sock or other foot covering?

It is not required to wear a sock with a post op shoe, though you can wear socks and bandages as required. In inside lining is designed to be soft and padded in order to minimize irritation directly against the skin. If you do experience skin irritation while wearing a post-op shoe, add a sock and/or reduce the tension on the adjustable straps.

What if my bandaging or cast is too bulky for a post op shoe?

Depending on the injury, your doctor may require you to wear a cast or very bulky or layered bandaging. In this case, you may require a shoe larger than a post op shoe to accommodate bulky cast dressings. Cast shoes are designed to be roomier than standard post op shoes for the purpose of accommodating casts and thick bandages. Check out DARCO’s Body Armor Cast Shoe or the Slimline Cast Boot designed to accommodate very bulking dressings. Featuring an EVA outsole, DARCO's MedSurg DUO optimizes comfort while healing.

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