Foot and Ankle Surgery in Surrey

Foot and ankle problems are common.  Your feet and ankles take a lot of impact from standing, walking, jumping and standing on tip toes. They are a complicated area made up of 26 bones and more than 33 joints. The muscles in your lower leg are attached to the bones in your feet by tendons and they move your toes and the position of your foot as it hits the ground when you move.

In addition to wear and tear, injury and ill-fitting shoes can also cause problems in your feet and ankles. Pain in the feet and ankles can be particularly challenging. Even the smallest movement can cause distress and everyone needs to be able to get around to assume their daily activities.

Here at Ashtead Hospital, many of our highly experienced consultant orthopaedic surgeons have a special interest in foot and ankle surgery. They aim to rapidly diagnose your foot and ankle problem and offer advice on your best treatment options.

The range of foot and ankle surgeries we offer

Bunion (hallux valgus)

A bunion, also known as hallux valgus, is an enlargement or deformity of the big toe joint. The big toe tilts over towards the smaller toes and a bony prominence appears on the inside of the foot. This bony lump often causes discomfort or pain, sometimes the skin over the lump becomes red or blistered and the foot can become so wide that it’s difficult to get shoes to fit.

It’s thought that footwear may be a factor in the cause of a bunion.  We can provide advice on shoes and surgery if required to straighten the big toe.

Bunions can be treated through minimally invasive keyhole surgery or open bunion surgery.

Morton’s neuroma

Morton's neuroma, also known as Morton's metatarsalgia or interdigital neuroma, affects one of the nerves between the toes usually the nerve between the third and fourth toes. The nerve and surrounding tissue is compressed and irritated by the toe bones (metatarsal bones) pressing against the nerve when the gap between the bones is narrow. The nerve thickens and can cause severe pain in the ball of your foot or at the base of your toes. There may also be some numbness in your toes.

Being overweight, wearing high-heeled or tight pointed shoes, playing sports particularly those that place pressure on your foot such as running and racquet sports and some foot problems including flat feet, high arches, bunions and hammer toes, are linked to Morton’s neuroma and may make it worse.

Initially non-surgical methods such as losing weight, changing your footwear, orthotic devices, painkillers, avoiding some activities and injections may relieve the pain. In severe cases surgery may be required to remove some of the surrounding tissue and increase the space around the nerve, or to remove part of the nerve.

Zadeks procedure

Zadeks procedure involves the removal of your whole toenail and cutting away the area of tissue that your toenail grows from. It’s performed if your toenail is significantly in-grown or for recurrent in-growing toenail problems. As the toenail and its growing point are removed the nail never re-grows. This simple and quick procedure is performed under local anaesthetic.

The commonest cause of an ingrowing toenail is improper cutting of the nail causing it to push into the flesh and results in pain and inflammation.

Arthritic toe

Arthritic toe is when you develop osteoarthritis in the main joint of your big toe and it becomes painful, inflamed and stiff and overtime can restrict your movement. It’s often referred to as hallux rigidus which is a Latin name where hallux translates to ‘of the big toes’ and rigidus is ‘stiffness’. It is caused by the surfaces within your joint becoming damaged and so the joint doesn’t move as smoothly as it should.

Initially non-surgical treatment will be recommended such as: pain relief, anti-inflammatory medicines, changes to your footwear or shoe modifications, or injections into the joint to reduce pain and stiffness.

Your foot and ankle surgeon may feel that surgery is the best option for your arthritic toe to relieve or eliminate your pain. There are several surgeries available to treat hallux rigidus and your orthopaedic consultant will discuss the best one for you.

Claw/hammer toe

Claw and hammer toes are conditions that happen in the four smaller toes and cause them to abnormally bend. They may look strange or may hurt, or both. Claw toes cause your lesser toes to curl under your foot like a claw. Hammer toe is a deformity of the second, third or fourth toes where your toe is bent at the middle joint, so that it resembles a hammer.

These conditions are primarily caused by wearing tight and poor fitting footwear or an underlying muscle imbalance and result in toe and foot pain and often corns and calluses form.

Initially, claw and hammer toes are flexible and can be corrected using non-surgical methods such as soft, roomy toe box shoes, toe exercises, orthotics, splints and medicines. If your claw or hammer toes becomes rigid and painful or an open sore forms you may need toe straightening surgery. The procedure will depend on the type and extent of the deformity.

Foot and Ankle Surgery Specialists at Ashtead Hospital

Related Treatments

Knee Replacement

Knee replacement is knee surgery to repair worn arthritic knee joints or knee injuries using an artificial knee joint to help reduce pain and restore movement in your knee.

Find out more

Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is a common problem but could be a sign of an underlying condition. Learn what the common causes are and how shoulder pain can be treated with Ramsay Health Care.

Find out more

Bunion Surgery

Bunion surgery is foot surgery performed to realign or remove deformed bones in your big toe and foot caused by a bunion.

Find out more

Back Pain Treatments

Back pain treatments are effective in offering targeted relief and recovery from back and spinal pain. From facet joint injections, epidurogram and nerve root blocks, explore options for lasting comfort.

Find out more

Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

Shoulder and elbow surgery treats pain and stiffness in your upper limbs that may be due to injury, wear and tear, or a long-term condition. It aims to restore the full use of your shoulder or elbow without pain.

Find out more

Foot and Ankle Disorders

Foot and ankle disorders encompass a wide range of conditions affecting the intricate structures supporting mobility and balance. Our comprehensive approach from diagnosis to treatment addresses the unique needs of each patient.

Find out more

Latest from Ashtead Hospital

Ramsay Health Care UK Hospitals Recognised for Exceptional Patient Experience

Ramsay Health Care UK Hospitals Recognised for Exceptional Patient Experience

Ramsay Health Care UK is proud to announce that 20 of its hospitals across the UK have been recognised by Doctify with Patient Experience badges for 2026, reflecting consistently high standards of care based on real patient feedback.

Find out more
Ramsay Health Care UK Achieves JAG Accreditation

Ramsay Health Care UK Achieves JAG Accreditation

Ramsay Health Care UK is delighted to announce that all 25 hospitals providing endoscopy services have achieved the Joint Advisory Group (JAG) accreditation, and are the only independent provider to attain this. 

Find out more
Ramsay Health Care UK Hospitals Awarded Gold NJR for 2025

Ramsay Health Care UK Hospitals Awarded Gold NJR for 2025

Ramsay Health Care UK are celebrating after being named as a Gold National Joint Registry (NJR) Quality Data Provider for the second year running, after successfully completing a national data quality audit programme for 25 hospitals offering orthopaedic procedures.

Find out more
View More
Paying for yourself?

Get in touch

Need some advice on a treatment price or booking an initial appointment?

We're here to help.

BOOK ONLINE

Or send us a message...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA.

Important Information

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material, contained on this website is for educational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

No warranty or guarantee is made that the information contained on this website is complete or accurate in every respect. The testimonials, statements, and opinions presented on our website are applicable to the individuals depicted. Results will vary and may not be representative of the experience of others. Prior patient results are only provided as examples of what may be achievable. Individual results will vary and no guarantee is stated or implied by any photo use or any statement on this website.

Ramsay is a trusted provider of plastic or reconstructive surgery treatments as a part of our wrap-around holistic patient care. Our personal, friendly and professional team are here to support you throughout to ensure the best possible care. All procedures we perform are clinically justified.

*Acceptance is subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Ramsay Health Care UK Operations Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct authority under FRN 702886. Ramsay Healthcare UK Operations is acting as a credit broker to Chrysalis Finance Limited.

Ramsay Health Care UK is not currently recruiting for any roles based outside of England. If you are interested in applying for a role with Ramsay Health Care UK, please note that all available positions are advertised exclusively on our official website: https://www.ramsayhealth.co.uk/careers. Be cautious of individuals or organisations that approach you directly for remotely-based roles. Always verify the authenticity of the job offer and be careful with whom you share your personal information. For more information and advice on employment fraud, please visit: https://www.ramsayhealth.co.uk/careers/recruitment-fraud