Hammertoe Treatments for Lasting Relief

What You Need To Know

Understanding hammertoes, why they form, and how we treat them at every stage.

Understanding Hammertoes and How They Form

A normal toe is straight. A bent toe is called a hammertoe. There are two joints in every toe except the big toe, which has one. When a toe contracts, it often becomes stiff and bent at one or both joints. When the toe rubs in your shoes, it may create a painful red spot or hard skin called a corn or callus.

Hammertoes may be flexible, semi-rigid, or rigid, depending on the joint’s ability to move. A flexible hammertoe can still be moved at the joint and may be treated with a soft tissue procedure, while a semi-rigid or rigid deformity requires a bone procedure. The longer you have had the deformity, the more rigid it becomes.

Symptoms include pain at the top of the toe from shoe pressure, corns on top of the bend, swelling and redness of the joint, restricted motion, and pain extending to the ball of the foot at the base of the hammertoe. The deformity is caused by a muscle imbalance where the tendons are tighter on the bottom of the toe compared to the top. It is commonly genetic but can be aggravated by tight fitting dress shoes, trauma, or arthritis.

To confirm our diagnosis, we will examine all your toes, test whether buckled joints can be moved, and check for skin changes such as corns. We will also take an X-ray of the area to show the amount of deformity and whether the joint is affected by arthritis. If your toes hurt on a weekly basis, it is time to schedule an evaluation with us.

Treatment, Surgery, and Recovery

At Precision Foot and Ankle Centers, we encourage our patients to try different shoes and pads before considering a procedure. Many patients see significant improvement with conservative care alone. Our step-by-step approach begins with toe pads, including hammertoe pads, crest pads, and silicone corn cushions that slip over the affected toe. Next, we recommend shoes with more depth or width in the toe box, such as New Balance, SAS, ECCO, Rockport, Munro’s, and Dansko. Spot shoe stretching on leather shoes can also relieve pressure over a specific toe.

When conservative care is not enough, surgical repair is the next step. A flexible joint may be corrected by releasing the tight tendon on the bottom of the toe. For rigid joints, a section of bone is removed and the toe is realigned, then fused with an absorbable or metallic pin. The procedure is performed in a surgery center or hospital under IV sedation and local anesthesia.

It typically takes six weeks for the toes to heal. You will wear a surgical shoe with Velcro straps for three to six weeks and can walk during this time. Complications occur less than 10% of the time. Chronic swelling is the most common issue and occurs about 20% of the time, which is why we ask patients to wrap the toe with coban for several months after the procedure. Most patients have very little discomfort after the first week and usually only need tylenol or advil for pain. If your toes hurt weekly, schedule an evaluation with us today.