Hammertoe is a contracture (bending) deformity of one or both joints of the second, third, fourth, or fifth toes. This abnormal bending can cause pressure to be put on the toe when you are wearing shoes. This causes problems to develop! Hammertoes can start out mild, but over time will get worse. If hammertoes are treated early on, the toes are much more flexible and the symptoms can often be managed with non-invasive measures. But if left untreated, hammertoes can become more rigid and will not respond to non-surgical treatment.
Causes
The most common cause of hammertoe is a muscle/tendon imbalance. This imbalance, which leads to a bending of the toe, results from structural or neurological changes in the foot that occur over time in some people.
Hammertoes may be aggravated by shoes that do not fit properly. A hammertoe may result if a toe is too long and is forced into a cramped position when a tight shoe is worn. Occasionally, hammertoe is the result of an earlier trauma to the toe. In some people, hammertoes are inherited.
Symptoms- Common symptoms of hammertoes include:
Diagnosis
Dr. Kylin Kovac at Idaho Foot & Ankle Center will do a thorough history and examination of the foot. He may attempt to reproduce your symptoms by manipulating your foot and will study the contractures of the toes. In addition, Dr. Kovac may take x-rays to determine the degree of the deformities and assess any changes that may have occurred. Hammertoes are progressive—they do not go away by themselves and usually they will get worse over time. However, not all cases are alike—some hammertoes progress more rapidly than others. After Dr. Kovac has examined you, he can develop a treatment plan that will be suited to your needs.
Nonsurgical Treatment
There is a variety of treatment options for hammertoe. The treatment plan will depend on the severity of your hammertoe and other factors.
When is Surgery Needed?
In some cases, usually when the hammertoe has become more rigid and painful or when an open sore has developed, surgery is needed. Often, patients with hammertoe have bunions or other foot deformities corrected at the same time. In selecting the procedure or combination of procedures for your particular case, Dr. Kovac will take into consideration the extent of your deformity, the number of toes involved, your age, your activity level, and other factors. The length of the recovery period will vary, depending on the procedure or procedures performed.
If you have any questions about your foot health or symptoms that you are experiencing, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kylin Kovac at Idaho Foot & Ankle Center 208-529-8393 or schedule an appointment online.