by Sonja Lyons
En Espaol (Spanish Version) A hammer toe is a toe that tends to remain bent at the middle joint in a claw-like position. This is potentially very painful. There are two types of hammer toe.
A flexible hammer toe has the ability to be straightened manually.
A rigid hammer toe cannot be pulled straight and can be extremely painful. After time, the top of the toe may press up against the shoe, potentially causing corns or calluses (thickened skin), which are also painful.
The sooner a hammer toe is treated, the more favorable the outcome. If you suspect you have this condition, contact your doctor.
2008 Nucleus Medical Art, Inc.
Hammer toe may be congenital (present at birth) or develop later. It occurs when there is a dislocation of the middle joint of the toe due to:
- Ligaments or tendons that have tightened, causing the toe's joints to curl downward
- Pressure from an adjacent bunion
- Wearing inappropriate footwear:
- Shoes that don't fit properly, for either an adult or child
- High heels
- Narrow-toed shoes
- Arthritis
- The foot having a high arch
- Injury to a toe
Occasionally, all toes may be bent; this may be due to problems with the peripheral nerves or the spinal cord.
Risk FactorsA risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. The following factors increase your chances of developing hammer toe. If you have any of these risk factors, tell your doctor: Family history of hammer toeArthritisBunions, corns, or persistent calluses on your feetFrequent use of the inappropriate footwear (listed above) Symptoms If you experience any of these symptoms, do not assume it is due to hammer toe. These symptoms may be caused by other, less serious health conditions. If you experience any one of them, see your physician. A toe that buckles underCorns on the top of a toeCalluses on the sole of the foot or bottom of the toePain in the middle joint of a toeDiscomfort on the top of a toeDifficulty finding any shoes that fit comfortablyCramping in a toe, and sometimes also the foot and legInfections or ulcers in a toeRedness or swelling at a toe jointDifficult or painful motion of a toe jointPain in the ball of the foot or at the base of a toe DiagnosisYour doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical examination of the toe. TreatmentTalk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include the following:
Conservative TreatmentsSplinting the affected toeSwitching to properly sized footwear with roomy toe boxesSplints, straps, cushions, or corn pads to relieve symptomsApplying an appropriate moisturizing cream to keep the skin soft Corrective SurgerySevere cases require an operation to straighten the joint.Tendons may be cut or transferred.The middle joint of the toe may be fused together. Prevention To help reduce your chances of getting hammer toe, take the following steps: Avoid wearing poorly fitting or narrow-toed shoes.Avoid heels higher than two inches.Check your childs shoe size often. RESOURCES: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeonshttp://www.aaos.org American Podiatric Medical Associationhttp://www.apma.org/s_apma/index.asp CANADIAN RESOURCES: BC Health Guidehttp://www.bchealthguide.org Nurses Entrepreneurial Foot Care Association of Canadahttp://www.nefca.ca/default.asp References: Hammer toe. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=241&topcategory=Foot . Accessed August 26, 2005. Hammer toe. Medline Plus. US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/0001235.htm . Accessed August 26, 2005.
Hammertoes. American Podiatric Medical Association website. Available at: http://www.apma.org/s_apma/doc.asp?TrackID=&SID=1&DID=9404&CID=371&VID=2&RTID=0&CIDQS=&Taxonomy=False&specialSearch=False . Accessed August 26, 2005. Last reviewed January 2008 by Robert Leach, MDPlease be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
