Hammertoes

Minor toe deformities like hammer toes affect up to 20% of people today. If one or more of your small toes curls down uncomfortably, Specialized Foot and Ankle Care podiatrists Ankur Bahri, DPM, and Sandeep Sandhu, DPM, can help. Nonsurgical treatments or advanced minimally invasive surgery can restore your comfort. Call the Carteret, Perth Amboy, or Edison, New Jersey, office today or book your appointment online to learn how to quickly get hammertoe treatment.

What is hammertoe?

Hammertoe is a lesser toe deformity: a problem with one of your small toes. The middle joint in your toe bends and pushes the end of your toe straight down, creating an upside-down “V” that looks like a hammer.

In milder cases (flexible hammertoe), you can apply pressure to your toe and flatten it. But the toe always bends again quickly. In the more severe cases (rigid hammertoe), the toe is always bent, and it’s impossible to straighten it.

What problems does hammertoe cause?

Hammertoe can cause problems, including: 

• Soreness or pain
• Difficulty walking and balance problems
• Corns or calluses where the bent toe rubs against the top of your shoe

Over time, hammertoe usually gets worse unless you receive the proper treatment. Flexible hammer toes often become rigid, which causes more severe symptoms.

Bunions and hammer toes frequently happen together. This can make all your symptoms worse and daily life frustrating and difficult.

How is hammertoe diagnosed?

The Specialized Foot and Ankle Care team can usually diagnose hammertoe with a foot exam. They gently flex your toe joints and check for range-of-motion problems or symptoms. Usually, they ask you to take a few steps. This helps assess your balance and see how hammertoe affects your weight distribution.

Hammertoe is caused by an imbalance in the muscles and tendons that control your toe joints. But they can also cause permanent changes in the joints themselves. The team uses X-rays to look for such problems and verify your diagnosis.

How is hammertoe treated?

The Specialized Foot and Ankle Care team recommends the best treatment based on your hammertoe and symptoms. 

Treating flexible hammer toes often includes wearing a toe splint. The splint holds the hammertoe and one of the neighboring toes together to prevent it from bending.

The team may also recommend special toe exercises, like picking up small objects or squeezing a towel using your toes. You might need to change to shoes with a bigger toe box.

Rigid hammer toes usually require surgery. The experienced foot surgeons at Specialized Foot and Ankle Care have advanced skills in minimally invasive surgeries that restore balance in your hammer toes.

At Specialized Foot & Ankle Care, Dr. Sandhu or Dr. Bahari treat patients for bunions, diabetic foot care, athlete foot, sports injuries, heel pain, and more. We are a foot and ankle specialist practice located in New Jersey. Call us to book your appointment today.