Hammer Toe
Hammer toes are contractions of the toe joints that causes a permanently bent or flexed position in the toe. This deformity often causes pain when wearing closed toe shoes when the bent toe begins to rub against the top of the shoe. The friction can cause a corn to develop.
Causes Of Hammer Toe
Several different things can cause hammer toes, including:
- Predisposing structural or biomechanical factors (genetic factors)
- Inflammatory conditions or arthritis
- General ligamentous laxity (loose ligaments)
- Mechanical factors such as footwear
Conservative Hammer Toe Treatment
Early treatment focuses on conservative methods such as converting from a pointed-toe low toe box shoe to wider, high toe box shoes that can alleviate the pressure. If the toe is still flexible, non-operative treatments are preferred.
Other non-surgical treatment options include: custom orthoses to stabilize the deformity. changes in activities: Try to avoid those things which cause symptoms. footwear modification: Using wider shoes with larger toe box. anti-inflammatory medication for periodic relief. physical therapy to calm the inflammatory process.
Hammer Toe Surgery
Surgery can become necessary if conservative measures fail to control the symptoms. Surgery may be needed to release the tendon so that the toe can lie flat. It’s also possible that a piece of bone may need to be removed so that the toe can straighten.
Hammer toe surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, under monitored IV anesthesia. A variety of factors will determine the specific type of surgery necessary. These factors include the patient’s age, weight, bone quality, and severity of deformity.
The main goal of hammer toe surgery is to relieve the pain associated with the deformity. There are many surgical procedures to correct deformities from hammer toes. A typical surgery aims to remove the hammertoe, to realign the bones that make up the toe, and to balance the forces so the deformity does not return.
Many hammer toe surgeries require three to four weeks in a post-operative boot or shoe.
Foot & Ankle Specialist At The CMD
The Center For Musculoskeletal Disorders treats patients with foot and ankle disorders from our four locations. Our podiatrist are highly experienced treating patients with foot disorders, including hammer toe.
Foot disorders should be evaluated and treated as soon as possible in an effort to avoid surgery down the road and prevent further damaged to the foot and ankle. Patients who pursue early treatment are usually able to resolve pain or functionality issues using a combination of non-operative treatments.