Phalangeal Head Resection for Hammer Toe

A hammer toe is a toe that bends down toward the floor at the middle toe joint. It usually happens in the second toe. The toe may bend up at the joint where the toe and foot meet, causing the middle toe joint to rise up.

In a phalangeal head resection for a hammer toe, the surgeon removes a section of the phalangeal bone.

The surgeon removes the bone section.

The surgeon straightens the toe.

The surgeon uses a pin to hold the straightened hammer toe in place.

After the toe has healed, the surgeon removes the pin, and the straightened hammer toe stays in place.