Lesser toe correction surgery treats deformities of the smaller toes (hammer toes, claw toes, or mallet toes) that cause pain, difficulty with footwear, and calluses. It may involve straightening the toe, fusing a small joint, or releasing tight tendons.
A small incision is made over the affected toe joint. Depending on the deformity, the procedure may involve removal of a small piece of bone, fusion of a small toe joint with a wire or screw, tendon release, or a combination. A wire may protrude from the tip of the toe for four to six weeks. The operation takes 20–40 minutes per toe.
Surgery is recommended when a toe deformity causes persistent pain, calluses, ulceration, or difficulty with footwear that has not responded to non-operative measures.
Wider footwear, toe padding, silicone toe sleeves, strapping, and podiatry. These measures can effectively manage many patients.
Day-case procedure. Plan for limited footwear options for several weeks.
Reduced pain, improved toe alignment, and easier footwear fitting. Satisfaction rates are generally good, though perfect toe straightening is not always achievable.
Toe swelling may persist for several months.
The corrected joint is usually stiff or fused by design.
If a wire is used, it may catch on clothing or bedding.
The deformity may gradually recur over time.
Pin-site infection or wound infection.
The small joint may fail to fuse.
The toe may heal in a suboptimal position.
Numbness in the toe.
Local anaesthetic with or without sedation, or general/spinal anaesthesia.
A special post-operative shoe for four to six weeks. If a wire is used, it is removed at four to six weeks in clinic. Swelling settles over three to six months. Normal footwear at six to eight weeks.
Wire removal at four to six weeks. Review as needed.
Wire removal is quick and usually causes only brief discomfort. Local anaesthetic is not usually needed.
Yes, multiple toes can be corrected in the same operation.