Foot Surgery: Flexible and Rigid Hammertoes

Healing after surgery

The severity of your condition, number of toes involved, and type of surgery done will affect your recovery time. Many people are able to walk right after surgery with a special surgical shoe. Full healing can take several weeks. Your healthcare provider can advise you on what to expect after surgery.

With hammertoes, 1 or more toes curl or bend abnormally. This can be caused by an inherited muscle problem, an abnormal bone length, or poor foot mechanics. The affected joints can rub inside shoes, causing corns (buildups of dead skin).

There are many nonsurgical treatments for hammertoes. If these don't work, you may want to consider surgery.

Flexible hammertoes

When hammertoes are flexible, you can straighten the buckled joints. Flexible hammertoes may become rigid over time.

Tendon release

This treatment helps release the buckled joint. The bottom (flexor) tendon may be repositioned to the top of the affected toe (flexor tendon transfer). Sometimes, the top or bottom tendon is released but not repositioned (tenotomy).

Flexible hammertoe.

Flexor tendon transfer.

Rigid hammertoes

Rigid hammertoes are fixed (not flexible). You can't straighten the buckled joints. Corns, pain, and loss of function may be more severe with rigid hammertoes than with flexible ones.

Arthroplasty

A part of the joint is removed, and the toe is straightened. In some cases, the entire joint may be replaced with an implant. When healed, the bones become connected with scar tissue, making your toe flexible.

Rigid hammertoe.

Arthroplasty.

Fusion

First, the cartilage and some bone on both sides of the joint are removed. Then, the toe is straightened, and the 2 bones are held together, often with a pin. The pin is removed after several weeks. Once your foot heals, the toe will be less flexible, but more stable.