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MINIMALLY INVASIVE CORRECTION • 4 CHICAGO-AREA LOCATIONS

Minimally Invasive Hammertoe Surgery in Chicago, IL

Straighten bent toes through micro-incisions under 5 mm — no protruding wires, no large scars, walk the same day. Our residency-trained Chicago podiatrists use fluoroscopic-guided percutaneous techniques at 4 convenient Chicagoland locations.

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Call (312) 701-0770
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Walk Same Day
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No Protruding Wires
4–6 wk
Regular Shoes
4
Chicagoland Locations

Minimally invasive hammertoe surgery Chicago — foot surgical correction

What Is a Hammertoe?

A hammertoe is a deformity in which one or more of the lesser toes develop an abnormal downward bend at the middle joint (the proximal interphalangeal joint). This occurs when the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that hold the toe in alignment become imbalanced, pulling the joint out of its natural position.

Left untreated, hammertoes progress from flexible — where the toe can still be manually straightened — to rigid, where the joint becomes permanently contracted. Early intervention offers the most conservative treatment options and the best long-term outcomes.

Related conditions include mallet toe (bend at the joint nearest the tip), claw toe (curling at both middle and end joints), and crossover toe (toe drifts over or under an adjacent toe due to ligament instability).

Common causes include ill-fitting shoes, bunions displacing the second toe, genetic predisposition, traumatic injury, and systemic conditions such as diabetes or arthritis.

Common Hammertoe Symptoms

If you notice any of these signs, schedule an evaluation before the condition progresses to a rigid, permanent deformity.

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Visible Downward Bend

Visible downward bend or “curling” of one or more toes at the middle joint — the hallmark sign of hammertoe deformity.

⚡

Pain When Walking

Pain or discomfort when walking or wearing shoes, especially as the bent joint presses against the inside of footwear.

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Corns & Calluses

Corns or calluses on the top of the bent joint or tip of the toe, caused by friction against shoes.

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Swelling & Inflammation

Swelling, redness, or inflammation around the toe joint that worsens with activity and pressure.

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Loss of Flexibility

Inability to straighten the toe or flex it fully — a sign the deformity is progressing from flexible to rigid.

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Open Sores (Advanced Cases)

Open sores or ulcerations in advanced or diabetic cases where pressure and friction break down the skin.

Treatment Options

We always recommend trying the least invasive option first. For flexible hammertoes, conservative care can relieve pain and slow progression. For rigid deformities, minimally invasive surgery offers the fastest recovery.

Conservative

Wider, Roomier Shoes

The single most important first step. Shoes with a deep, wide toe box reduce pressure on the bent joint. High heels and narrow-toed footwear accelerate deformity and should be avoided.

Conservative

Custom Orthotics

Prescription foot orthotics correct the biomechanical imbalances that contribute to hammertoe formation. By redistributing pressure and controlling abnormal foot motion, orthotics can halt or slow progression.

Learn about custom orthotics →

Conservative

Splints, Padding & Injections

Toe splints and buddy-taping hold the toe in a more neutral position. Non-medicated pads reduce friction. Corticosteroid injections provide targeted pain relief for inflamed joints.

MIS Advantage

Percutaneous Arthroplasty

Through a micro-incision, a small portion of bone is removed from the bent joint under fluoroscopic guidance, allowing the toe to lay flat. Best for flexible or semi-rigid hammertoes. Fastest recovery of all techniques.

MIS Advantage

Percutaneous Arthrodesis (MIS Fusion)

The joint surfaces are prepared through micro-incisions and fused in a straightened position using an internal screw or implant — no external K-wire. Ideal for rigid hammertoes requiring permanent, stable correction.

MIS Advantage

Percutaneous Tendon Release

The tight flexor or extensor tendons pulling the toe into a bent position are released through a needle-point incision. Often combined with bone procedures for comprehensive correction.

MIS vs. Traditional Hammertoe Surgery

See how minimally invasive hammertoe correction compares to traditional open techniques across every metric that matters to patients.

  • 1–2 incisions under 5 mm vs. 2–4 cm open incision over the toe
  • Internal fixation only — no K-wire protruding from the toe tip for weeks
  • Regular shoes in 4–6 weeks vs. 8–10 weeks with traditional surgery
  • Mild pain managed with OTC meds vs. prescription pain relief for 5–7 days
  • Less cumulative trauma when correcting multiple toes in one session
<5mm
Incision Size
4–6 wk
Regular Shoes
2–3 mo
Full Activity
0
Protruding Wires

Our Locations

Four convenient Chicagoland offices for minimally invasive hammertoe surgery.

Michigan Avenue — Chicago

30 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1220, Chicago, IL 60602

(312) 701-0770

Mon–Fri 8am–5pm

Book at this location →

Elmhurst, IL

277 N York St, Elmhurst, IL 60126

(312) 701-0770

Mon–Fri 9am–5pm

Book at this location →

Flossmoor, IL

19801 Governors Hwy #150, Flossmoor, IL 60422

(708) 799-2900

Mon–Fri 9am–5pm

Book at this location →

Tinley Park, IL

6703 W 159th St Suite 107, Tinley Park, IL 60477

(708) 799-2900

Mon–Fri 9am–5pm

Book at this location →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about minimally invasive hammertoe surgery at Michigan Avenue Podiatry.

Minimally invasive hammertoe surgery — also called percutaneous hammertoe correction — straightens bent toes through micro-incisions under 5 mm, using specialized instruments and real-time fluoroscopic (live X-ray) guidance. Unlike traditional open surgery that requires large incisions and a protruding K-wire for weeks, MIS preserves surrounding soft tissue and uses internal fixation — resulting in less scarring, less pain, lower infection risk, and significantly faster recovery. Most patients walk out of our office the same day.

Yes. Most patients walk out of our office in a protective surgical boot immediately after minimally invasive hammertoe surgery. No crutches, casts, or knee scooters are needed. You will wear the surgical boot for approximately 3–4 weeks while the correction stabilizes, then transition to wide comfortable shoes. Full return to regular footwear typically occurs around 4–6 weeks.

Traditional open hammertoe surgery typically requires a 2–4 cm incision over the toe, significant soft tissue dissection, and often a K-wire (metal pin) sticking out of the toe tip for 4–6 weeks. Minimally invasive hammertoe surgery uses 1–2 incisions under 5 mm each, preserves surrounding soft tissue, and uses internal fixation — no protruding wires. MIS patients typically return to regular shoes in 4–6 weeks versus 8–10 weeks for traditional surgery, with less scarring, less pain, and lower infection risk.

Yes — flexible hammertoes (where the toe can still be manually straightened) often respond well to conservative treatment, including wider shoes, toe-straightening splints, padding, custom orthotics, and cortisone injections. However, once a hammertoe becomes rigid and fixed in a bent position, conservative options can only manage symptoms — they cannot correct the structural deformity. Minimally invasive surgery is then typically the most effective option to restore proper toe alignment with the fastest recovery.

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so you feel no pain during surgery. Postoperative discomfort is significantly less than traditional hammertoe surgery because MIS preserves surrounding soft tissue and uses micro-incisions. Most patients manage pain with over-the-counter medication after the first 2–3 days. A major advantage of MIS is the elimination of protruding K-wires, which are a common source of ongoing discomfort and anxiety with traditional hammertoe surgery.

Yes. Most major health insurance plans — including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Medicare, and many Medicaid plans — cover minimally invasive hammertoe surgery when it is medically necessary. Medical necessity is established when conservative treatments have failed and the hammertoe causes significant pain, functional limitation, or skin breakdown. Our billing team verifies your benefits and obtains prior authorization at no cost to you. Call (312) 701-0770 for a complimentary insurance check.

Yes. Our surgeons routinely correct multiple hammertoes in a single session. Minimally invasive techniques make this particularly feasible because the micro-incisions heal faster and cause less cumulative swelling than traditional open surgery on multiple toes. We also frequently combine MIS hammertoe correction with minimally invasive bunion surgery when both conditions are present, since untreated bunions are a leading cause of hammertoe recurrence.

Hammertoes develop from a muscle-tendon imbalance around the toe joints. The most common contributing factors include ill-fitting footwear (narrow toe boxes or high heels that crowd the toes), a bunion pushing the second toe out of alignment, genetic predisposition to abnormal foot structure, traumatic toe injury, and systemic conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or neuromuscular disease. Women are more frequently affected than men, largely due to footwear styles.

Bunion Surgery
Custom Orthotics
Plantar Fasciitis
Diabetic Foot Care

Ready to Straighten Your Toes — Without the Wires?

Don’t let a hammertoe limit your life. Our Chicago podiatrists offer minimally invasive hammertoe correction through micro-incisions — no protruding wires, walk the same day, back to regular shoes in weeks — at 4 convenient Chicagoland locations.

Book Your Appointment

(312) 701-0770  |  [email protected]

Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohammad Usman, D.P.M. — Podiatric Physician & Foot & Ankle Surgeon. Featured in Forbes, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Bustle, and Medscape.



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