Table of Contents
Overview
Causes of Hammertoe
There are several things that can cause hammertoe. Most often, genetics play a role. If your parents or grandparents had hammertoe, you may get it as well. Additionally, people with flat feet or high-arched feet are more prone to this deformity.
Patients who have suffered from a bunion may also be impacted by a hammertoe. This is due to the fact that when the big toe begins to drift towards the other toes, the second toe will be under more pressure and forced to compensate by displacing the bone upwards.
Other causes of hammertoe deformity include:
- Injury
- Tendon imbalance
- Long toes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Diabetes
- Neuromuscular disease
- Certain kinds of footwear, like high heels
Hammertoe - A Gradual Decline
Tips for Dealing with Hammertoe
If a hammertoe deformity is slowing you down, follow these tips!
- Wear quality footwear: Shoes with proper arch support and a wide toe box will allow your toes to move freely. Avoid high heels and shoes that are tight around the toes. Not only can they cause hammertoes, they can cause corns, too. Lastly, don鈥檛 wear shoes with seams or stitching in the area, as they do not accommodate hammertoes.
- Get your feet remeasured! Your shoe size changes as you age. So if you鈥檙e in the wrong size shoe, you are not giving your feet their best chance at good foot health. As our arches flatten with age, wear, and tear, our feet can grow slightly longer, needing to be in a different shoe size.
- Wear orthotics: Our office can measure you for custom orthotics to provide additional relief and cushion for the area impacted by your hammertoe.
- Stretch! Building foot stretches into your regular routine is vital to maintaining proper toe flexibility and strength. Start with stretching each toe individually and gently pulling each toe for ten to fifteen seconds. You can also use a towel to stretch all your toes at the same time.
Conservative Treatment Options
If a hammertoe deformity is addressed at the onset with the right conservative treatment, it can be reversed to an extent. Some treatment options include:
- Preventative measures to stop it from worsening, like roomy footwear and open sandals.
- Custom orthotics and pads to help correct toe deformity by redirecting foot and toe pressure and relieving overall pain and irritation.
- Physical therapy to help strengthen the foot and toe. This helps correct the muscle, tendon and ligament imbalances that have formed and prevent the deformity from reforming.
Surgical Options for Hammertoe Deformity
If your hammertoe is severe and conservative treatment options have not worked, then surgery may be needed. Some of the surgical treatment options for hammertoe are:
- Capsular Repair: Lengthening the contracted tendons and joint capsule.
- Joint Removal: Removing a piece of the joint to allow room for the toe to straighten.
- Tendon Transfer: If the toe is still somewhat flexible, a tendon transfer can be done wherein the tendons are redirected from the bottom of the toe to the top where it鈥檚 bent. This helps straighten the toe.
- Joint Resection: Lengthening the toe to reach the ligaments and tendons underneath. The end of one bone is taken off so that the toe can be fully extended.
- Arthrodesis or Joint Fusion: With fusion, the ends of the two bones that form the affected joint are cut to make the toe straight. Pins or screws are used to keep it in place while the ends of the bone heal or fuse.
Conclusion
FAQs - Hammetoe
Dr. Bob Baravarian DPM, FACFAS is a Board-Certified Podiatric Foot and Ankle Specialist. He is an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA School of Medicine and serves as Director of University Foot and Ankle Institute.
Dr. Baravarian has been involved in athletics his entire life and played competitive tennis in high school and college. He has an interest in sports medicine, arthritis therapy, and trauma/reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. He is also fluent in five languages (English, French, Spanish, Farsi, and Hebrew),
