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At Annapolis Foot and Ankle Center, Eric Harmelin, DPM, Rikhil Patel, DPM, and their team have seen — and treated — a lot of hammertoes.
Hammertoes are among the most common deformities of the forefoot.
Typically, it develops in your second, third, and fourth toes. The problem begins when the middle joint in the toe bends abnormally, making the tip of your toe turn downward rather than point straight out. The deformity resembles the shape of a hammer.
Here, the Annapolis Foot and Ankle Center team breaks down the ins and outs and explains when surgery is your best treatment option.
Improperly fitting shoes are the primary cause of hammertoe. Narrow-toed shoes can squish your toes into a bent position. High heels cause a similar problem, as they force your toes against the front of the shoe.
When shoes constrict and bend your toes over an extended time, the muscles shorten to accommodate the position.
You’re more likely to develop a hammertoe if you have an inflammatory joint disease like arthritis. Bunions also raise your risk because they push your big toe into your second toe, which may force your second toe into a downward, hammertoe position.
Not being able to straighten your toe is a prominent symptom, but hammertoe is also painful, affecting the top or the base of your bent toe. You may also experience pain in the ball of your foot and when you move your toe.
Painful corn often develops as the top of the bent toe rubs against your shoe. Patients with hammertoes also tend to develop calluses, contributing to foot discomfort.
If your toe is still flexible, we can treat the problem with various non-surgical options. These may include one or more of the following:
Without early treatment, hammertoe usually worsens. The muscles and tendons stay tight, and the toe becomes rigid and fixed in its bent position. Now the toe is in a state of permanent contracture.
Surgery is likely necessary for relief if your toe is stiff and causing pain.
There are several types of hammertoe surgery.
Even when your toe is still flexible, it’s possible to have enough pain and difficulty moving to consider surgical intervention.
The most common surgery for flexible hammertoe is straightening the toe with a tendon transfer. This procedure involves rerouting tendons to maneuver the bent joint back into a straight position.
In this case, we may recommend a joint resection or a bone fusion. During a joint resection, part of your bone is removed to allow your toe to return to its normal position. In a fusion, the toe is straightened, and the bones are fused together, preventing the toe from bending.
Hammertoe surgery is usually an outpatient procedure, so you go home the same day. Full recovery can take weeks, however, depending on the type of surgery. After surgery, you need to keep your foot elevated, so you should plan for downtime.
If you’re suffering from hammertoe discomfort, early intervention is critical. Contact our team at Annapolis Foot and Ankle Center for an expert evaluation. We have three convenient locations located in Annapolis, Stevensville, and Glen Burnie, MD. Call any of our offices or request an appointment online today.
