Hammertoe Specialists

What is hammertoe?

Hammertoe occurs when one or both joints in any of your smaller toes develops an abnormal contracture that causes them to bend at the middle joint. Hammertoe develops when there’s an imbalance between a muscle and tendon. The imbalance makes the toe bend, and it eventually leads to mechanical changes in your foot.

The way the toe bends can put it under pressure and lead to:

• Pain when wearing shoes
• Irritation of the toe
• Inflammation
• Redness
• Burning sensation
• Corns and calluses

In severe cases, you may develop open sores.

Hammertoes are typically mild to begin with and worsen over time. At first, hammertoes are flexible, but they can become increasingly rigid without treatment. Rigid hammertoes usually require more invasive treatment.

How is a hammertoe treated?

The Trinity Foot & Ankle Specialists team begins with conservative treatments if your hammertoe is still flexible. These treatments ease the pain of hammertoes but don’t reverse the abnormal bending. Your podiatrist might recommend:

Medications

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce pain and inflammation.

Ice

Applying an ice pack to the hammertoe at intervals throughout the day helps reduce inflammation and pain.

Changes in footwear

Shoes need a wide toe box and mustn’t be too short for your toes. Avoid wearing pointed shoes.

Padding

You might benefit from using over-the-counter footpads if you have corns or calluses.

Splinting, strapping, or bracing 

Your podiatrist might fit small straps or splints to realign your toe or protect a bent toe.

Activity modifications

Avoid activities that cause bunion or hammertoe pain, such as long walks or periods of standing.

Orthotic devices

Orthotics are inserts that fit in your shoe. They help control the muscle/tendon imbalance, correct structural problems in your foot, and stabilize motion. Trinity Foot & Ankle Specialists offers state-of-the-art custom orthotics designed specifically for your feet.

Would I need surgery for a hammertoe?

Conservative treatments resolve the problem very well for most people with a hammertoe. However, there are occasions when surgery might be necessary.

The main reason would be if you had a rigid hammertoe. Surgery might also be of benefit if noninvasive treatments aren’t relieving your pain and it’s interfering with your daily activities.

If you have an open sore because of your hammertoe, that might need surgery too. Hammertoe surgery is usually an outpatient procedure.

Early intervention is always best with a hammertoe. For an expert assessment, call Trinity Foot & Ankle Specialists today, or book an appointment online.