Lesser Toe Surgery & Hammer Toe Straightening

Mr Redfern has pioneered keyhole surgical techniques to treat lesser toe problems including keyhole 3-dimensional corrections using micro-osteotomies (tiny corrective cuts in the bones made with a small drill under X-ray guidance).

Lesser Toe Surgery

There are many types of lesser toe deformities, including hammer, claw, mallet and cross-over toe deformities. The big toe is known as the hallux and all the others are referred to as the lesser toes.

Some people are born with abnormalities of the lesser toes. However, the majority develop during adult life particularly, but not exclusively, in old age. Surgery to the lesser toes is usually carried out for painful deformities that have not been successfully been treated with other methods such as silicone moulds, toe socks or shoe modification.

Hammer Toes

Toe operations involve surgery to the soft tissues (lengthening or transferring tendons and releasing joints) and/or surgery to the bones and/or joints (PIPJ / DIPJ excision or fusion). This type of surgery is often performed for ‘clawing’ or ‘hammer’ toe deformities. Temporary pins are sometimes used to hold the toe straight whilst healing occurs. The pins are then removed 6 weeks after surgery.