Hammertoe Treatment

Hammertoe Treatment 

A hammertoe is an abnormal bend of the middle joint in a toe. The toe bends downward, similar to a hammer, which is where the name came from. It is most common in the second or third toe but can also develop in the fourth toe.

Muscles, ligaments, and tendons that keep the toe straight may develop an imbalance and become weak, which leads to the bend in the joint. Different factors may contribute to the weakness, including:

• Wearing shoes that crowd the toes, such as high heels
• Having arthritis in the toes
• Genetics
• Past foot injuries, such as a broken toe

If a hammertoe is mild, you may only have a slight deformity of the toe. It may not interfere with wearing certain types of shoes or cause any problems. But in other instances, a hammertoe can cause the following symptoms:

• Curling of the toe
• Pain in the toe and possibly the ball of the foot
• A callus on the affected toe from friction
• Difficulty wearing certain types of shoes

Treatment 

Usually, you can prevent a hammertoe from becoming worse with a few changes, such as switching to different shoes. But depending on the severity of a hammertoe, you may want to get treatment from a foot specialist.

A hammertoe can be painful, and it can also become worse over time. In most cases, the following treatment may help:

Wearing different shoes: If you wear certain types of footwear that crowd your toes or put excess pressure on the toes, switching to something that has a roomier toe box and has a low heel may help. 

Splinting: Wearing a special splint at night that keeps the toe straight may also be useful in correcting a hammertoe. The splint can reduce pressure and pain and may help prevent the toe from becoming worse.

Wearing inserts: See a foot specialist about creating shoe inserts to prevent a hammertoe from worsening. An insert may also decrease pain. Your foot specialist can make custom orthotics, which may be more effective than over the counter inserts.  

Exercises: In some cases, specific exercises may help improve a hammertoe. There are several different exercises that may help relax the tendons in the foot. Certain exercises may also help strengthen the muscles in the toes. Your foot specialist can show you the best exercises to perform and recommend frequency. For example, your podiatrist may suggest curling your toes up and down several times or trying to pick up a marble or small towel with your toe.

Surgery: In many cases, conservative treatment to treat a hammertoe is helpful. But if the condition worsens and is painful, your foot specialist may recommend surgery. The goal of hammertoe surgery is to realign the tendons and reposition the toe.

Different types of surgical procedures are available to straighten the toe. The exact type of procedure used may vary depending on the extent of the deformity. For example, one form of surgery involves removing a piece of bone to straighten the toe. Another option is releasing the tendon to allow the toe to lay flat.

Usually, surgery for a hammertoe is done on an outpatient basis, which means you can go home the same day as the surgery.  Your foot specialist will discuss surgical options, including how long it takes to recover. Some podiatrists like Sheldon Nadal, D.P.M performed minimally invasive foot surgery for hammer toes. The work is done through small openings which results to less tissue trauma.

If you have any questions about options for treating a hammertoe or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact podiatrist Sheldon Nadal, D.P.M at the Bayview Eglinton Podiatry Clinic in Toronto.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/feet-and-foot-care/hammertoe

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hammertoe-and-mallet-toe/symptoms-causes/syc-20350839