A bunionectomy is a surgical procedure involving the realignment of the big toe.  Part of the first metatarsal bone may be removed or reconstructed.  A wire and screw may hold the new alignment.  A bunionectomy is performed when the patient is in pain or can no longer perform normal daily activities.

Achilles tendon repair is done to re-attach a rupture of the tendon that runs from the bottom of the calf to the back of the foot.

Most tears occur during athletic activities that require sudden bursts of muscle power in the legs. Once the diagnosis is made, patients have two treatment choices: prolonged casting or surgery.

This procedure corrects a deformity that causes a toe to become bent upward in the middle resembling a hammer.

Hammertoe is a bending of one or both joints of the little toes. This abnormal bending can put pressure on the toe when wearing shoes, causing problems to develop. If left untreated, hammertoes can become more rigid and will not respond to non-surgical treatment.

The most common cause of hammertoe is a muscle/tendon imbalance. This imbalance, which leads to a bending of the toe, results from structural changes in the foot that can take place over time.

Hammertoe correction takes one of two forms, depending on the patient’s condition:

• Flexible Hammertoe: If the hammertoe is flexible and the surgeon can straighten the toe, a tendon transfer procedure may be used to correct the problem. This involves rerouting the tendons from the bottom of the toe to the top of the toe where it is sticking up. This helps pull the bent joint into a straight position.
• Fixed Hammertoe: If the hammertoe has become stiff, there are two options for treatment. Joint resection can be used to treat the fixed hammertoe. In this procedure a small incision is made over the top of the toe. Ligaments and tendons may be cut to help with straightening the toe. The end of the bone is removed to allow the toe to straighten completely, and pins are temporarily used to hold the toe straight. The pins are usually removed three to four weeks after the surgery.

Fusion can also be used to treat a fixed hammertoe. In this procedure, the ligaments and tendons are cut to help straighten the toe. The ends of the bone are cut and the toe is straightened. Pins, screws or other implants can be used to keep the toe straight while the bone ends heal.