Making Sense of Your Changing Digits—What Is a Hammer Toe?
August 18, 2022 3:59 pm
If one or more of your toes has been changing over time, and you aren’t sure what is happening, it might be something called hammer toe. But what is a hammer toe?
What Does a Hammer Toe Look Like?
A hammer toe, sometimes referenced as hammertoe, gets its name from the appearance of the affected toe, which bends in such a way that it resembles a hammer. This type of deformity affects the second, third or fourth toes. When a person has this condition, the toe is bent at the middle joint (the proximal interphalangeal joint), which causes it to look like a hammer.
In some cases, a person who has a hammer toe may also develop other issues with their feet, as the deformed toe rubs awkwardly against shoes and other objects. Corns and calluses are common.
What Causes a Hammer Toe?
A number of factors can combine to cause this toe deformity. The joint of the toe ultimately bends when too much pressure is placed on the tendons and joints in the toe. This is often the result of a muscle imbalance.
Your shoes play a large role in causing the imbalance. Improperly fitting shoes that are too narrow or short can force the toes into an awkward position. High heeled shoes are also a common cause, since they push the foot down, putting a lot of pressure on the muscles in the toes.
While anyone can develop a hammer toe, some people are at a higher risk due to age, or conditions such as diabetes and arthritis.
How Hammertoe Is Diagnosed and Treated
Wondering whether your sore toe is a hammer toe? In addition to seeing a visible bend in the toe, you may also experience swelling or redness, inability to straighten out the toe and have difficulty walking.
Talking with your primary care provider is a good first step. He or she will perform a physical examination, confirming whether you have a hammer toe or another similar condition, like mallet toe.
Depending on the severity of your toe deformity, your provider may recommend you see a certified orthopaedic specialist, who can confirm a diagnosis and offer treatment options.
If you’re diagnosed with hammer toe, recommended treatment will depend on several factors, including the severity of the toe bend and your other symptoms. In many cases, a hammer toe caught in the earliest stages can be cared for with nonsurgical treatment.
This type of treatment may include a recommendation to wear shoes that fit properly, medical advice about specific exercises you can do to strengthen your toe joint and muscles, and recommendations for products that may provide relief, such as supportive shoe cushions for high arches.
In severe cases of hammer toe, surgical treatment may be required. Surgery is usually only recommended when the toe joint can no longer be extended and nonsurgical treatment hasn’t worked. Surgical options may include tendon lengthening, tendon transfer or joint fusion to help the tendon function more naturally, allowing the toe to extend.
Looking to alleviate the discomfort of hammer toe or another orthopaedic health condition? Magnolia Regional Health Center’s Orthopaedic Center of Excellence is here to get you moving again.
Tags: hammer toe, hammertoe, mallet toe, orthopaedic surgery, toe deformity
NewsCategorized in: Orthopaedic
This post was written by Magnolia Regional Health Center