Why do you have to pin toes when you do surgery on them?

Using a pin in the toe after correcting it from a contracted position is important because it stabilizes the toe and keeps it in the new position. Hammertoes form over the course of years. In that time, the ligaments and tendons adapt to this position. Some ligaments and tendons become less effective or more loose while others slowly get tighter. After surgery, we need to convince these structures to strengthen or stretch respectively in order to gain more confidence that the toe will not start to go back to where it was before surgery. It is a way to 'train' the toe to stay in its new desired position.