CONDITIONS
What is a hammertoe?
A hammertoe means that the joints of one or both of the toes (excluding the big toe) are abnormally bent. Typically, hammertoes are mild deformities in the beginning and then progress to worse deformities over time. In the earliest stages, hammertoes are not quite as rigid and treatment options can alleviate the issue. Over time, if left untreated, the hammertoes can become increasingly inflexible. Every case of hammertoe is different, meaning that some patients’ hammertoes worsen more quickly than others.
Muscle or tendon imbalance is the primary cause of hammertoe. First, patients experience structural foot changes over time, and then the imbalance develops. Hammertoe can also become irritated by improper footwear, where the toe is forced into a cramped position. For some patients, hammertoes are genetically inherited or due to early trauma to the toe.
What are the symptoms?
Hammertoe is fairly easy to spot and can cause frustrating symptoms for patients. Symptoms include:
- Imbalance while standing or moving
- Pain/pressure in the area
- Inflexible or rigid toes
How is a diagnosis made?
Dr Amir diagnosis hammertoe by first obtaining a thorough medical history of the patient, and then physically examining the feet. During the examination, Dr Amir can gather the cause and extent of the deformities. These initial insights will be verified with X-ray imaging of the toes/feet.
What are the treatment options?
In the earliest stages, when hammertoes are most flexible, symptoms can be relieved with non-surgical treatments. It is important to note that left untreated, hammertoes become more rigid and do not respond well to non-surgical treatment. Options for non-surgical treatment include:
- Wear only wide fitting shoes, avoid heels, and wear correct shoes for each activity
- Purchase hammertoe pads
- Massage the area to alleviate pain and use ice packs if the pain is more severe
When is surgery needed?
When the hammertoe has been left untreated or progresses more rapidly and increases pain, surgery will be required. In many cases, patients who have other foot deformities can have them corrected during the same surgery. Dr Amir will consider the extent of the deformity, the number of toes involved, patient age and activity level, and a few other factors to determine the best surgical approach. Recovery periods can vary depending on the procedure deformed.
