How do doctors fix hammer toes?

Surgery: There are many different hammer toe surgeries based on the severity of the deformity. Some procedures will require bone surgery. Some procedures will require only soft tissue surgery. Best to be evaluated by the surgeon.

Different : Surgical methods, some are arthroplasty where the head of one of the bones is removed to make space to allow the toe to sit straight agian, and sometimes an arthrodesis where the joint gets connected.

Flexible or Rigid?: The basis to decide how to fix a hammertoe is based on the rigidity or flexibility of the toe itself. If the toe can be reduced to normal, then only soft tissue work is needed, the more rigid, the more boney work needs to be done to fix the alignment, .

Many options: The joint may be left separated or fusion of the ends may be attempted. For fusion, the cartilaginous ends of the bone are removed and the ends are approximated and stabilized via a wire, screw, pin, or implant. The contracted tendons may need to be cut or lengthened.

Surgery vs. padding.: If you catch hammertoes in the early stages, a small, in-office procedure to release one of the tendons will often allow the toe to lie straight again. If the toe deformity has become rigid, the surgery is more involved. It's an outpatient procedure in an operating room, and can involve bone cuts, pins, screws, or other implants. Without surgery, your best bet is padding to reduce your discomfort.