CMT Foot Surgery Explained: A Patient's View
What Charcot-Marie-Tooth foot reconstruction involves, why it's done, and what each procedure is for, explained by someone who's had it.
Last updated: 4 October 2026
I'm not a doctor. This guide shares my own experience of a 10-hour CMT foot reconstruction, backed by research I've referenced throughout. Always check with your surgical team before changing your diet, supplements or medication.
My experience
I had a 10-hour reconstruction in March 2026 to rebuild my cavovarus foot. This hub breaks down each part of the operation in plain English, with my own recovery notes and the clinical sources I relied on.
Why CMT causes foot deformity
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease damages the peripheral nerves that control your muscles. As those nerves fail, the muscles in your lower legs weaken at different rates. That imbalance slowly pulls the bones of the foot out of alignment, producing the classic CMT foot: a high arch (cavovarus), clawed toes, and foot drop. You can read the full definitions in the glossary.
When surgery is considered (and when bracing is enough)
For many people, custom orthotics and an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) keep the foot stable enough for years. Surgery usually comes into the conversation when bracing can no longer control the deformity, pain and falls are increasing, and the foot is becoming rigid.
The goals: a flat, stable, balanced foot
Whatever the exact procedures, the aim is the same: a plantigrade foot that sits flat on the ground, a heel that points straight, and balanced muscle pull so the correction holds over time.
The main procedures
My operation combined several procedures. Each one tackles a different part of the deformity. Read the dedicated page for each one below.
Osteotomy
Why heel and midfoot bones are cut and realigned, how the bones heal, and what my recovery was really like.
Tendon Transfer
How surgeons reroute working tendons to replace muscles CMT has weakened, and what retraining a transferred tendon feels like.
Achilles Lengthening
Why a tight Achilles is lengthened during CMT foot surgery, how it's done, and what to expect from calf weakness afterwards.
Joint-preserving vs fusion surgery
My surgeon offered two paths. Fusion (triple arthrodesis) locks the hindfoot joints solid, which stops pain but sacrifices movement and shifts stress onto neighbouring joints, accelerating arthritis. I chose joint-preserving reconstruction to keep my foot flexible. You can read the full story of that decision and the complications that followed in my Ortho-Plastics Limb Salvage journal entry.
Finding a specialist foot and ankle surgeon in the UK
CMT reconstruction is complex. Look for a consultant orthopaedic surgeon with a sub-specialty in foot and ankle work, ideally with experience of neuromuscular deformity. The British Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (BOFAS) lists specialist surgeons across the UK.
Questions I asked before saying yes
- What exactly will be cut, moved, or fused?
- How long will I be non-weight bearing?
- Given my CMT and my blood thinners, what are the specific risks?
- What's the backup plan if a wound won't heal?
- What will physiotherapy look like, and for how long?
My operation: what was done in 10 hours
My reconstruction combined an Achilles lengthening, a calcaneal osteotomy, tendon transfers, and a Jones procedure. The full breakdown, including the later infection and muscle flap surgery, is in the Ortho-Plastics Limb Salvage post.