Hammertoes
Overview
A hammertoe is the unnatural bend in a toe, most commonly seen in the second and third toe. Hammertoes and mallet toes are slightly different; while hammertoes bend in the middle joint of the toe, mallet toes bend at the joint closest to the nail.
Causes
Wearing ill-fitting shoes, or shoes which squeeze and put pressure on the toes can cause hammertoe to form, but it can also occur because of the biological construction of the foot, such as having an unnaturally high foot arch. Other preexisting health problems can also be a huge factor in developing hammertoe, like arthritis and pressure caused by a bunion.
Symptoms
- An unnatural looking bend in the toe
- Stiffness within the toe, as well as trouble moving it
- Foot pain after/ during wearing shoes
- Discoloration and swelling
Treatment
In order to properly correct the affected toe’s position, splints or straps to keep it flat are viable. Certain exercises can also help the toe’s posture, as well as NSAIDs. In more severe cases where surgery is needed, a wide range of surgical procedures are available such as:
- Tendon Transfer
- Arthrodesis
- Basal Phalangectomy
- Arthroplasty
- Weil Osteotomy