Hammer Toes
This series of educational material is a broad overview of foot problems, and not as detailed as an actual podiatrist visit. I recommend you to see a podiatrist for professional evaluation of your foot and ankle problems. This is for educational purposes only.
This material is from my own experiences seeing patients. Other podiatrists may have different recommendations. Each examination has nuances and details too small to mention in this type of presentation.
What are Hammer Toes?
A hammertoe is a type of toe deformity. The toe or toes are bent downward and/or sideways (sometimes upwards) while standing. There are multiple types and treatment is either non-surgical or surgical.
Causes
Hammertoes are genetic. The rare exception is trauma that breaks bones or causes nerve damage. Your choice of shoes, or lack of shoes, did not cause your hammertoes and will not cause you to develop hammertoes. Tight fitting shoes can cause pain in hammertoes, but does not cause the formation of hammertoes.
Every toe has little tendons and muscles that pull it different directions. Over many years of life those little muscles become imbalanced for a multitude of reasons. This can in rigid or flexible hammertoes. Rigid hammertoes are stuck in a bent position and cannot be straightened out. Flexible hammertoes can be straightened out.
Most people will develop rigid or flexible hammertoes in their lifetime. For most people hammertoes are not an issue. For some corns or calluses develop on top of the toe. For others a painful callus can develop on the tip of a toe due to the pressure of it hitting the ground.
Symptoms
Downward/Upward/Sideways bending of toe/toes.
Rigid or flexible
Callus on top of toe and/or on tip of toes.
In severe cases ulcers can develop.
Overlapping of toes on top of each other.
Treatment
Treatment is either non-surgical or surgical.
Nonsurgical Accommodation:
Crest pad under toes to prevent the tip from hitting the ground.
Pad on top of toe to prevent rubbing on shoes.
Pad between toes to prevent them from rubbing together.
Wear a shoe with wide toe box and/or soft toe box made of mesh or flexible cloth.
Surgical Flexible Hammertoe Treatment: This treatment is my favorite as it is quick and easy. It is called Flexor Tenotomy. A needle is inserted at the bottom of the toe and used to cut the tendon causing the deformity. In the majority of cases the toe become completely straight and there are no more issues with it. Healing time is 1-2 weeks until the skin closes where the needle was inserted. This is done in office and does not require going to a surgical center.
Rigid Hammertoe Treatment:
Surgery. Discuss with your podiatrist the best options for you.