What is a Hammertoe?

Hammertoe is a contracture – or bending – of one or both joints of the second, third, fourth, or fifth toes.

Common Symptoms

Common symptoms of hammertoes include:
• Pain or irritation of the affected toe when wearing shoes
• Corns on the top, side, or end of the toe, or between two toes
• Calluses (or another type of buildup) on the bottom of the toe or on the ball of the foot

Causes

The most common cause of hammertoe is a muscle or tendon imbalance.

Treatment: Non Surgical

There are a variety of treatment options for hammertoe. A number of non-surgical measures can be taken:
• Trimming corns and calluses
• Padding corns and calluses
• Changes in footwear
• Orthotic devices
• Injection therapy
• Medications
• Splinting/strapping

Surgical Treatment

In some cases, usually when the hammertoe is more rigid, surgery is needed to relieve the pain and discomfort caused by the deformity.