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 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 © 2002 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

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 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 the 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. Accessed May 7, 2020.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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