Health Library

Surgical Procedures for Foot Pain

Surgery may be needed when other methods do not help to treat:

  • Ingrown toenails
  • Bunions
  • Hammertoes
  • Neuromas
  • Heel pain (plantar fasciitis and heel spurs)
  • Haglund's deformity (pump bump)
  • Tarsal tunnel syndrome
  • Achilles tendonitis
  • Flat feet

Ingrown Toenails

Surgery may be done to cut away the sharp part of the ingrown nail. Part of the nailbed may also be removed to stop the nail from growing.

Bunions

Bunion surgery may include:

Bunionectomy —The large bone of the big toe is shaved down. Or, a cut is made and a bone-shaving drill is inserted and used to shave off the bone.

Bunion surgery —This surgery realigns the big toe joint and bone along with tendons and ligaments. The metatarsal bone may also be repositioned.

Bunion
IMAGE
Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Hammertoes

Surgery may be done to release the tendon. Some people may also have a piece of bone removed to straighten the toe.

Neuromas

Neuroma surgery removes the interdigital (between the toes) neuroma. Sometimes, the nerve tissue regrows and forms another neuroma.

Heel Pain

Heel surgery may be done to treat heel spurs, plantar fasciitis , and bursitis .

Plantar fasciotomy for plantar fasciitis —This surgery releases the plantar fascia from the heel bone.

Surgery for heel spurs —The plantar fascia is cut and released and the heel spurs are removed.

Haglund's Deformity (Pump Bump)

Surgery may be done to remove or reduce the bony growth.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Surgery may be done to release the ligament to ease pressure on the nerve.

Achilles Tendonitis

This surgery repairs or removes the damaged part of tendon.

Flat Feet

This surgery repairs the structures that support the arch of the foot.

References

Achilles tendinopathy. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/achilles-tendinopathy . Updated April 30, 2018. Accessed May 7, 2020.

Anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/anterior-tarsal-tunnel-syndrome . Updated December 21, 2015. Accessed May 7, 2020.

Foot pain and problems. Johns Hopkins Medicine website. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/foot-pain-and-problems. Accessed May 5, 2020.

Foot complications. American Diabetes Association website. Available at: https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/complications/foot-complications. Updated May 5, 2020. Accessed May 5, 2020.

Foot care 101. American Podiatric Medical Association website. Available at: http://www.apma.org/files/FileDownloads/myFEETFootCare101.pdf. Accessed May 5, 2020.

Hallux valgus and bunion. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/hallux-valgus-and-bunion . Updated November 22, 2017. Accessed May 7, 2020.

Hammer toe. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/hammer-toe . Updated March 30, 2015. Accessed May 7, 2020.

Morton neuroma. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/morton-neuroma . Updated June 8, 2016. Accessed May 7, 2020.

Pes planus. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/pes-planus-flatfoot . Updated September 26, 2017. Accessed May 7, 2020.

Plantar fasciitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/plantar-fasciitis . Updated March 21, 2020. Accessed May 7, 2020.

Posterior tarsal tunnel syndrome. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/posterior-tarsal-tunnel-syndrome/updates . Updated July 21, 2016. Accessed May 7, 2020.