In CMT surgery is rarely the first step and never a cure. It is considered when the deformity has become fixed, when pain persists, when the ankle keeps giving way, or when pressure wounds keep returning in the same place.
What surgery can do
The aim is a foot that sits flat on the ground, is stable, and fits in a shoe or an orthosis. That sounds modest, but it is exactly what removes pain and reduces falls.
Common procedures
- Tendon transfers — a tendon that still has strength is moved to take over a weakened function, for example to help lift the foot.
- Osteotomy — cutting and realigning a bone, usually the heel, to correct the position of the foot.
- Plantar release — releasing the tight band of tissue under the foot in a high arch.
- Toe correction — straightening or fixing claw toes that cause pressure wounds on top.
- Arthrodesis — fusing one or more joints when a deformity can no longer be made supple. This costs mobility but delivers stability and less pain.
Why timing is discussed
CMT continues after the operation. A correction that suits your muscle balance today may drift again over the years. Surgeons therefore often choose procedures that restore balance rather than only shape, and sometimes prefer to operate earlier on a still-supple foot instead of waiting until everything is rigid.
Questions worth asking
- What is the goal: less pain, better fitting shoes, steadier walking?
- How long are immobilisation and rehabilitation, and what can I not do in that period?
- Will I still need an orthosis afterwards? (Often yes — surgery corrects the position, not the weakness.)
- How many CMT feet do you operate on each year?
Ideally the decision is made with a foot and ankle surgeon experienced in neuromuscular feet, in consultation with your neuromuscular reference centre.