Hammertoe Correction Specialist

Center for Foot and Ankle Restoration

Orthopedic Surgery & Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgeon located in Dallas, TX, Fort Worth, TX, & Frisco, TX

Having a bend in one or several of your toes might not seem like such a big deal at first, but an unmanaged hammertoe can become rigid, painful, and swollen. The skilled orthopedic surgeons Charles Cook, MD, and John Noack, MD, and the knowledgeable team at the Center for Foot and Ankle Restoration in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Frisco, Texas, perform hammertoe correction surgeries to correct the deformity and preserve your mobility. Call the Center for Foot and Ankle Restoration for hammertoe treatment and correction today.

Hammertoe Correction Q & A

What is hammertoe?

Hammertoe is a common orthopedic deformity characterized by the permanent bending of your second, third, and fourth toes. The condition typically gets worse over time, especially if you often wear tight, closed-toe shoes. When hammertoe first develops, it’s easy to treat and correct with simple changes, like wearing looser footwear or using custom orthotics. Eventually, the toes become rigid in their flexed position and require surgery to correct.

How does hammertoe correction work?

At the Center for Foot and Ankle Restoration, the team provides several corrective surgical options to treat rigid hammertoe. They can also perform bunion surgery and other deformity corrections at the same time. Your hammertoe correction might involve:

Joint resection

During a joint resection, your surgeon cuts the ligaments and tendons keeping your toes bent. They may also add temporary pins to hold your toes straight as they heal.

Tendon transfer

If your hammertoe is still mildly flexible, your surgeon may take a nearby tendon and pull it across the top of your hammertoe. Such a tendon transfer can hold your toe straight to relieve hammertoe pain and restore your foot’s appearance.

Fusion

During a fusion, your surgeon removes parts of the bones, ligaments, and tendons in your toe joints. They use pins to hold your toes straight and encourage the bones to fuse together.

What is the recovery like after hammertoe correction?

The swelling after a hammertoe correction surgery can linger for up to a year, but you can start walking normally long before that. During the recovery period, you must:

Stay off your feet for several weeks
Hold your foot in an elevated position whenever possible
Use a cane or crutches for support once you start walking again
Perform specific exercises to strengthen your toes
Wear comfortable shoes

If your surgeon placed pins during your surgery, you need to come back for a second procedure several weeks later to have them removed. It’s possible to develop hammertoe again even after surgery, but following your provider’s instructions for recovery helps keep your toes straight.

If your hammertoe causes pain, discomfort, corns, or sores, call the Center for Foot and Ankle Restoration for a hammertoe correction consultation today.

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