Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Görkem Kıyak
OrthopedicsVerified
- 21+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
Free quote
60 seconds · no obligationView Profile
Foot & Ankle
Reconstruction of foot joints and toes
What reconstruction of foot joints and toes is, which bunion, arthritis, flatfoot and toe deformities it treats, how realignment, fusion and tendon work differ, what the evidence says, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, recovery with a protective shoe, risks and how to choose a foot surgeon.
A written plan with the surgeon's name and the full price — usually within 24 hours.
- Category
- Foot & Ankle
- Hospitals
- 2
- Verified
- 1
- Price from
- Price on request
Verified surgeons for Reconstruction of Foot Joints and Toes
1 doctor Compare doctors, ratings and prices — ask any of them for a free quote.
What is reconstruction of foot joints and toes?
Reconstruction of foot joints and toes is the surgical rebuilding of the bones, joints and tendons of the forefoot and midfoot when deformity, arthritis or an old injury has made walking painful or shoes impossible to wear. It is not one operation but a group of them. Depending on the problem, the surgeon may cut and realign bones (osteotomy), fuse a worn or unstable joint (arthrodesis), remove part of a joint, rebalance tendons or, in selected cases, replace a joint. The aim is a foot that is straighter, more stable and less painful to load, not simply a different appearance. Orthopaedic foot units in Turkey perform these operations for adults and, less often, for teenagers with persistent deformity.
This guide explains which conditions it treats, how the techniques differ, what the evidence says, what it costs compared with the UK, US and Germany and what recovery involves. For the wider range of procedures see our orthopaedic treatments in Turkey.
Which foot and toe problems are reconstructed?
- Big-toe deformity: a bunion (hallux valgus), where the toe drifts toward the others and the joint becomes prominent and sore.
- Big-toe arthritis (hallux rigidus): a stiff, painful joint that makes pushing off difficult.
- Lesser-toe deformities: hammer, claw and mallet toes that rub on shoes and form corns.
- Forefoot pain under the ball of the foot: metatarsalgia from uneven load, often after a bunion or in rheumatoid arthritis.
- Flatfoot and midfoot collapse: adult acquired flatfoot, old Lisfranc injuries and arthritis of the midfoot.
- Complex cases: rheumatoid forefoot, cavus (high-arched) foot, neuropathic Charcot foot and failed previous surgery.
Surgery is normally considered when pain persists despite wide, supportive shoes, insoles, padding, anti-inflammatory medication and, for some conditions, injections. The NHS and the British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society both advise that foot surgery is mainly for pain and function; cosmetic appearance alone is a weak reason to operate.
Does foot and toe reconstruction work? What the evidence says
For well-chosen patients the results are good. Studies of bunion correction, big-toe fusion and lesser-toe procedures show that most people have less pain, a straighter toe and easier shoe fitting, and big-toe fusion in particular gives a durable result for advanced arthritis. The evidence is less clear on which of the many bunion techniques gives the longest-lasting result, and recurrence of a bunion is a known problem, more so when a severe deformity was treated with a small correction. Stiffness is a trade-off: a fused joint is stable but does not bend. Surgery also cannot remove the effect of poor circulation, nerve disease or ill-fitting shoes. A good surgeon explains which of these limits apply to your foot and does not promise a perfect foot.
Foot joint and toe reconstruction cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The ranges below are approximate figures for one foot, not hospital quotes. The price depends on how many joints and toes are corrected, whether bones are fused or an implant is used, the anaesthesia, the number of hospital nights and whether both feet are done in one trip. Each hospital confirms its price in a written plan.
| Country | Approximate cost range (one foot) |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €3,000 – €9,000 |
| United Kingdom | €6,000 – €15,000 |
| United States | €10,000 – €35,000 |
| Germany | €5,000 – €13,000 |
A package normally includes the X-rays and weight-bearing images, the surgeon and anaesthetist, implants such as screws, plates or wires, hospital nights, a post-operative shoe or boot, medication and airport transfers. Ask whether crutches, physiotherapy advice and the removal of wires or pins are included.
Which technique will the surgeon use?
The method follows the problem. For a bunion, the surgeon corrects the angle by cutting the first metatarsal bone (osteotomy) and fixing it with screws, and may also tighten soft tissue; a more severe or unstable joint may need a fusion at the base of the bone. A big-toe joint with advanced arthritis is usually fused; a milder stiff joint may be cleaned by removing bone spurs (cheilectomy). Lesser toes are straightened by releasing or transferring tendons and, if the deformity is fixed, by removing a small piece of bone or fusing the middle joint, often held for a few weeks with a thin wire. Midfoot and flatfoot problems may need tendon transfer, heel-bone realignment or fusion of arthritic joints. For a related operation on the ankle, see ankle joint fusion.
Realignment, fusion or non-surgical care: how do they compare?
| Approach | Suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Non-surgical care (wide shoes, insoles, padding, injections) | Mild to moderate pain; people not ready for surgery | Does not correct the deformity; symptoms can return |
| Joint-preserving surgery (osteotomy, tendon work) | Flexible deformity with a healthy joint surface | Recurrence possible; protected walking for weeks |
| Fusion (arthrodesis) | Advanced arthritis or unstable, severe deformity | Joint no longer bends; bone must heal solidly |
| Joint replacement (selected joints) | Limited, older patients with specific arthritis | Fewer long-term data in the forefoot; not suited to heavy use |
The most common single operation within this group is bunion surgery; our guide to hallux valgus surgery covers it in detail.
How is the operation done step by step?
- Assessment: weight-bearing X-rays, sometimes a CT or MRI, and a check of circulation and nerve function in the foot.
- Anaesthesia: a nerve block at the ankle or spinal anaesthesia with sedation, or general anaesthesia for longer operations; a tourniquet limits bleeding.
- Correction: the surgeon makes incisions over the affected joints, realigns or fuses bone and balances tendons.
- Fixation: screws, small plates or wires hold the correction until the bone heals.
- Closure: the wounds are closed and a padded dressing and a protective shoe or boot are applied.
Operating time ranges from about one hour for a single toe to two or three hours for a multi-joint reconstruction.
Who is a good candidate, and who is not?
Good candidates are adults with persistent pain or deformity that limits walking or shoe wear, a foot with adequate circulation, and the willingness to follow a protected-walking plan. Smoking, poorly controlled diabetes, poor blood supply to the foot, active infection, severe osteoporosis and conditions affecting healing raise the risk, and surgery may be delayed or declined until they are managed. Surgery is also unsuitable if you cannot manage weeks of limited walking at home. Tell the team about nicotine use, blood thinners, steroid use and previous foot surgery.
What results can you realistically expect?
Swelling can last three to six months, so the final shape is not judged early. Photographs usually show a straighter toe line and small scars along the toe or the side of the foot, but they cannot show how well the foot bears weight. Realistic goals are less pain, a foot that fits ordinary shoes and better walking, rather than a return to high heels or high-impact sport. Ask for X-ray comparisons of patients with a deformity like yours and for the surgeon's own figures on recurrence and fusion healing.
How long is the stay in Turkey and what is recovery like?
Most patients spend about five to seven nights in Turkey, with one or two nights in hospital. You leave in a post-operative shoe or boot, often allowed to put some weight through the heel with crutches from the first days, though rules differ after fusions and midfoot surgery. Keep the foot raised for most of the first two weeks to control swelling. Stitches are removed after about two weeks, wires after about four to six weeks and fused bone is checked by X-ray at six to eight weeks. Desk work is possible after about two weeks if the foot can stay raised; normal shoes usually return after eight to twelve weeks, and driving depends on which foot was operated and on the surgeon's advice. Short flights are usually allowed after the first check, with calf exercises and hydration to reduce the risk of a clot.
What are the risks of foot reconstruction?
All surgery carries risk. Common effects are swelling, bruising, stiffness and numbness near the scar. Other risks include infection, delayed wound healing, nerve irritation, a bone that fails to fuse or heal (non-union), a toe that drifts back (recurrence), pain transferred to a neighbouring joint, irritation from metalwork, blood clots in the leg and, rarely, complex regional pain syndrome. Smokers and people with diabetes are at higher risk of wound and bone problems. The NHS and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society advise discussing these and the recovery time openly before surgery. Ask who will review your foot at home and how complications are treated.
How to choose a foot surgeon and hospital, and red flags
Look for an orthopaedic surgeon with a special interest in foot and ankle surgery, a licensed hospital with an anaesthetist, weight-bearing imaging and physiotherapy, and a team that reviews your X-rays before quoting. A reliable clinic explains the options, including not operating. Red flags include a firm price with no imaging, a single fixed technique for every foot, promises of a perfect foot, no named surgeon and no plan for weight-bearing rules or follow-up. Our page on how it works describes the process, and you can request a plan through the free quote form.
Questions to ask the clinic
- Which joints will be corrected, and with which technique and why?
- Will bones be fused, and what will that mean for movement?
- How much weight can I put on the foot, and when?
- What is the recurrence rate for my type of deformity?
- When can I fly, drive and wear normal shoes?
- Are removal of wires or pins and the post-operative shoe included?
Hospitals with Orthopedics in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is surgery to rebuild the bones, joints and tendons of the forefoot and midfoot when deformity, arthritis or old injury causes pain. Techniques include realigning bones, fusing joints, rebalancing tendons and, in selected cases, joint replacement.
For well-chosen patients most people have less pain, a straighter toe and easier shoe fitting. Fusion gives a durable result for advanced arthritis. Recurrence and stiffness are known limits, and surgery cannot fix poor circulation or nerve disease.
Approximate ranges are €3,000 to €9,000 per foot in Turkey, against about €6,000 to €15,000 in the UK. The price depends on how many joints are corrected, fusion or implants, the hospital stay and what the package includes.
Photographs usually show a straighter toe line and small scars once swelling settles, which takes three to six months. They do not show comfort or strength, so ask for X-ray comparisons of patients with a similar deformity.
You wear a protective shoe or boot, raise the foot for about two weeks and use crutches initially. Desk work often resumes after about two weeks, and normal shoes return after roughly eight to twelve weeks.
A nerve block or spinal anaesthesia is used, and pain relief continues afterwards. Throbbing and swelling are common in the first week, and are controlled with painkillers, elevation and rest.
A fused joint no longer bends, but the nearby joints adapt and most people walk normally in ordinary shoes. Big-toe fusion is common for advanced arthritis; the surgeon sets the position to suit walking.
Yes. Recurrence is a known risk, particularly when a severe deformity or very loose joints are treated with a small correction. A correct technique and following the weight-bearing plan lower the chance.
Risks include infection, delayed healing, numbness, non-union, recurrence, stiffness and blood clots. Smoking and diabetes raise the risk. An experienced foot surgeon and a licensed hospital reduce it.
Plan on five to seven nights, including one or two in hospital. The surgeon checks the wound and weight-bearing before you fly, and may ask you to stay longer after complex midfoot surgery.
Patient stories