Flexor tendon lengthening for hammer toes and curly toes in paediatric patients.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the outcome of flexor tendon lengthening performed for hammer toes or curly toes in children, after a mean follow up of 31 months. Specific attention was given to postoperative active flexion of the toe. The deformity improved in all patients, but less in the fourth and fifth toe. Active flexion returned and strength was recovered in all patients. We think that open flexor tendon lengthening for hammer and curly toes is a safe and reliable procedure. We recommend a transverse skin incision, Z-lengthening of the flexor digitorum longus in hammer toes and an associated tenotomy of the flexor digitorum brevis in curly toes.