Hammertoe - DocMartins Foot & Ankle Clinics

Hammertoe is a foot deformity that occurs due to an imbalance in the muscles, tendons or ligaments. Those muscles normally hold the toe straight. The type of shoes you wear, foot structure, trauma and certain disease processes can contribute to the development of these deformities.

Hammertoes usually start out as mild deformities and get progressively worse over time. In the earlier stages, hammertoes are flexible and the symptoms can often be managed with noninvasive measures.

What Is a Hammertoe ?

Hammertoe is a contracture (bending) deformity of one or both joints of the second, third, fourth or fifth (little) toes. This abnormal bending can put pressure on the toe when wearing shoes, causing problems to develop.

Common Hammertoe symptoms

Hammertoe and mallet toe feature an abnormal bend in the joints of one or more of your toes. Moving the affected toe may be difficult or painful. Corns and calluses can result from the toe rubbing against the inside of your shoes.

What Causes Hammertoe

Common causes of this include:

A traumatic toe injury
Arthritis
An unusually high foot arch
Wearing shoes that don’t fit properly
Tightened ligaments or tendons in the foot
Pressure from a bunion, which is when your big toe points inward toward your second toe.

Hammertoe Diagnosis

Your doctor can diagnose hammertoe or mallet toe by examining your foot. Your doctor might order X-rays to further evaluate the bones and joints of your feet and toes.

Hammertoe Treatment

If your toe is still flexible, your doctor might recommend that you change to roomier, more comfortable footwear and that you wear shoe inserts or pads.

If conservative treatments don’t help, your doctor might recommend surgery to release the tendon that’s preventing your toe from lying flat.

Watch this video to learn more about pinky toe deformity and what you should do if you have one.

Hammertoe Prevention

The best hammer toe prevention tip is to wear properly fitting shoes. If your shoes feel too snug, go to your local shoe store and have the length and width of your feet measured.

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Foot And Ankle Experts In Michigan

For our patient’s convenience, we offer foot and ankle treatments for all kinds of conditions such as Hammertoe in Adrian, MI, Hammertoe in Ann Arbor, MI, and Hammertoe in Jackson, MI. We have our own digital x-ray, MRI, Cat-scan, and ultrasound equipment at many of our podiatry clinics. Our on-site podiatric physical therapy clinics allow for constant communication between the physicians and physical therapists, ensuring the most effective therapy and successful recovery for our patients.

Foot And Ankle Conditions

Chronic Ankle Instability Diabetic Foot Conditions Hammer Toe Metatarsalgia Heel Pain Neuroma Nerve Pain

Foot And Ankle Treatments

Achilles Repair (PARS) Brachymetatarsal Internal Ankle Brace Plantar Plate Repair Cartiva Revisional Surgery Talar Spatial Frames

Some of the case studies related to Hammerotoe are listed below. If you want to learn more about them click on the button below:

February 20, 2022

Hammertoe Surgery

Hammer toes are a very common occurrence. Here is a case of a young female with chronic pain in her 3rd digit due to a hammer toe deformity which was causing irritation with shoe gear. Pain can be due to chronic pressure with the toe rubbing against the inside of the shoes causing callus build…
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February 17, 2022

Weil Osteotomies Surgery

Metatarsal osteotomies of the lesser toes ( Weil osteotomy) are common for foot and ankle surgeons. There is very little room for error with these types of procedures. These procedures are often performed in isolation due to conditions like metatarsalgia or hammertoes and sometimes with bunionectomies. However, if not done up correctly can cause significant…
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February 14, 2022

Hammertoe Correction

29 year old female being seen for painful right 5th toe. The patient has some curvature and under riding with rubbing of her 4th toe. We offered conservative treatment which in this hammertoe condition is somewhat satisfactory of the patient is using on a regular basis however once the callus is removed and spacers are…
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