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Hammertoe  
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Definition  

A hammer toe is a toe that tends to remain bent at the middle joint in a claw-like position. There are two types of hammer toe:

  • Flexible hammer toe—can be straightened by hand
  • Rigid hammer toe—cannot be pulled straight and can be extremely painful. The position of the toe can also lead to corns or calluses . These may also be painful.

The sooner a hammer toe is treated, the better the outcome. If you suspect you have this condition, contact your doctor.

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Causes  

Hammer toe may be present at birth or develop later in life due to:

  • Tendons that have tightened, causing the toe's joints to curl downward
  • 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.

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Risk Factors  

Factors that increase your chance of getting hammer toe include:

  • Family history of hammer toe
  • Arthritis
  • Foot and ankle abnormalities
  • Frequent use of the inappropriate footwear
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Symptoms  

If you have any of these symptoms, do not assume it is due to hammer toe. Talk to your doctor about symptoms such as:

  • A toe that curls down
  • Corns on the top of a toe
  • Calluses on the sole of the foot or bottom of the toe
  • Pain in the middle joint of a toe
  • Discomfort on the top of a toe
  • Difficulty finding any shoes that fit comfortably
  • Cramping in a toe, and sometimes also the foot and leg
  • Difficult or painful motion of a toe joint
  • Pain in the ball of the foot or at the base of a toe
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Diagnosis  

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam of the toe will be done. Your doctor can diagnose hammer toe by its appearance.

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Treatment  

Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include the following:

Conservative Treatments  

  • Splinting the affected toe
  • Switching to properly sized footwear with roomy toe boxes
  • Splints, straps, cushions, or corn pads to relieve symptoms

Corrective Surgery  

Severe cases require an operation to straighten the joint.

  • Tendons may be cut or transferred.
  • The middle joint of the toe may be fused together.

If you are diagnosed with hammer toe, follow your doctor's instructions .

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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 child’s shoe size often.