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Toe deformity correction - shoes that fit, honestly.

Hammer, claw, mallet, crossover and curly toes - corrected by a consultant foot and ankle surgeon using MIS or open techniques, chosen to fit your foot.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite
  • 01

    A foot and ankle consultant, not a general list

    A named consultant orthopaedic or podiatric surgeon whose weekly list is forefoot and toe surgery.

  • 02

    Minimally invasive where it fits

    Percutaneous techniques (MIS) for the right patient - smaller wounds, faster recovery. Open where it is genuinely better.

  • 03

    Independent, and free

    We are paid by no clinic. Whether you need surgery, orthotics or footwear advice - the answer is impartial and costs you nothing.

Indicative pricing

What toe surgery costs privately in the UK.

Combined bunion and toe correction usually saves versus staging.

Procedure Range
Single toe correction (arthroplasty or tenotomy) £3,500–£6,000
Hammer toe correction with fusion (arthrodesis) £4,500–£7,500
Multiple toe correction (2 or more) £5,500–£9,500
Minimally invasive (MIS) toe correction £4,500–£8,500
Toe deformity + bunionectomy same sitting £8,500–£13,500
Foot and ankle consultation only £250–£400
Custom orthotics (add-on) £300–£600

When it helps

When toe surgery is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means podiatry and vascular review first.

  • Hammer, claw and mallet toes

    A toe fixed in a bent position at one or more joints, causing pain, corns or shoe problems.

  • Painful corns and calluses

    Recurring corns over the top or tip of a bent toe that keep coming back after chiropody.

  • Crossover toe (2nd MTPJ instability)

    A second toe drifting over or under the big toe - often with plantar plate rupture and metatarsalgia.

  • Curly and overlapping toes

    Common congenital or acquired deformity, especially of the little toe.

  • Toe deformity from bunion or flatfoot

    Secondary lesser-toe deformity from a large bunion or planovalgus foot - often needs combined correction.

  • Rheumatoid or diabetic forefoot

    Deformity as part of inflammatory arthritis or diabetes-related pressure changes - planned with rheumatology or podiatry.

  • Failed conservative measures

    Toe-props, padding, wider shoes and orthotics have not solved the pain or corns - a reasonable point to consider surgery.

  • Red flag: ulceration or infection

    A break in the skin over a bent toe, especially in diabetes or with poor circulation, needs urgent podiatry and vascular review - not a routine surgical booking.

Procedure options

The right operation for each type of bent toe.

  • Percutaneous (minimally invasive) toe correction

    Tiny 2–3 mm incisions with a small burr. Faster recovery, smaller scars - patient selection matters.

  • Open PIPJ arthroplasty

    Removal of a small piece of bone at the proximal interphalangeal joint to straighten the toe. The classic hammer-toe operation.

  • Arthrodesis with internal fixation

    Fusing the toe joint straight using a K-wire or intramedullary implant (Smart Toe, IPP-ON). More predictable straightness, no joint movement.

  • Flexor tenotomy

    Cutting the flexor tendon through a tiny incision - simple and effective for flexible curly or mallet toes.

  • Weil metatarsal osteotomy

    Shortening the second (or third) metatarsal to offload pressure and correct crossover toe.

  • Plantar plate repair

    Direct repair of a ruptured plantar plate at the 2nd MTP joint. Combined with Weil osteotomy in many cases.

  • Combined bunion and lesser toe surgery

    Where a bunion is driving the lesser-toe deformity, both are corrected at one sitting.

  • Non-surgical alternatives

    Toe-props, silicone spacers, orthotics, wider footwear and callus care - often enough for milder or flexible deformity.

Our vetted UK network

Foot surgeons who publish outcomes.

  • Consultant foot and ankle surgeons with a forefoot-heavy practice

  • Both open and minimally invasive (MIS) options available in the same clinic

  • Access to podiatry, orthotics and specialist foot X-ray on the same visit

  • Published outcomes for AOFAS and MOxFQ scores at 6 and 12 months

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Toe surgery is safe but swelling and shoe patience are the biggest realities.

  • Ankle block or GA

    Most toe surgery is done under an ankle or popliteal block with sedation. GA is offered when preferred or when multiple toes are addressed.

  • Recurrence and residual stiffness

    Some stiffness after arthrodesis is expected - the toe is deliberately straightened at the cost of movement. Recurrence rates vary by technique.

  • Swelling that outlasts the pain

    Toes and forefoot swelling can persist for 3–6 months. Ice, elevation and firm footwear are the levers.

  • Wire and implant issues

    K-wires are usually removed at 4–6 weeks in clinic. Internal implants are permanent. Rare wire migration or implant intolerance is dealt with in clinic.

  • Nerve numbness

    Small sensory branches can be irritated - usually settles over months. Persistent numbness is rare.

  • Infection

    Superficial wound infection under 2 percent. Pin-site infection is more common with K-wires and treated with antibiotics.

  • Floating toe after Weil osteotomy

    Elevation of the corrected toe off the ground is a specific complication of Weil metatarsal osteotomies. Careful fixation minimises it.

  • Return to shoes and activity

    Post-op shoe for 2–6 weeks. Normal trainers by 6–12 weeks. Fashion shoes with heels at 3–6 months.

  • Red flags after surgery

    Fever, spreading redness, sudden increase in pain, wound breakdown or numbness with pallor need the same-day team or A&E.

Reading your operation note

Four parts. Read the last one first.

  1. 01 Header

    Toes treated and technique

    Which toes were corrected, whether MIS or open, and any fixation used.

  2. 02 Technique

    Fixation, tenotomies and osteotomies

    K-wires, intramedullary implants, flexor tenotomies and any metatarsal osteotomies performed.

  3. 03 Findings

    Intraoperative findings

    Cartilage state, plantar plate status, and any deformity that was more or less than expected on X-ray.

  4. 04 Impression

    Shoe plan and follow-up

    Read this first: post-op shoe schedule, weight-bearing status, and review dates.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Toe deformity correction is usually covered when symptoms are established. Purely cosmetic requests may not be.

Frequently asked

Everything patients ask about toe surgery.

  • What is toe deformity correction?

    A group of small operations that straighten toes bent at the wrong angle - hammer, claw, mallet, crossover, curly or overlapping toes. The right operation is chosen based on which joints are involved, whether the deformity is flexible or fixed, and whether there is an associated bunion.

  • Is minimally invasive (MIS) toe surgery as good as open surgery?

    For selected flexible deformities, MIS has similar long-term outcomes with smaller scars, faster recovery and often less swelling. For fixed rigid deformities or when a fusion is needed, open surgery with internal fixation is still often the better choice. Your surgeon should explain which fits your case.

  • How long is recovery from toe surgery?

    Home the same day. Post-operative shoe for 2–6 weeks. Back to trainers by 6–12 weeks, sport by 3–4 months, and dress shoes with a heel by 3–6 months. Swelling settles fully over 6 months.

  • How much does toe deformity correction cost in the UK privately?

    Roughly £3,500–£6,000 for a single toe, £5,500–£9,500 for multiple toes at one sitting, £4,500–£8,500 for MIS, and £8,500–£13,500 when combined with a bunionectomy. Consultation only is £250–£400.

  • Do I need K-wires - and how are they removed?

    K-wires are commonly used for hammer-toe arthrodesis and are removed painlessly in clinic at 4–6 weeks, usually without anaesthesia. Modern intramedullary implants stay in permanently and avoid an external wire, at higher implant cost.

  • Can toe deformity come back after surgery?

    Recurrence is uncommon after a properly indicated operation and rehabilitation, but is more likely if the underlying cause (bunion, hallux valgus, flat foot, inflammatory arthritis) is not addressed. A thoughtful surgeon looks at the whole foot, not just the bent toe.

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