A hammer toe is a toe that tends to remain bent at the middle joint in a claw-like position. This is potentially very painful. There are two types of hammer toe.
A flexible hammer toe has the ability to be straightened manually.
A rigid hammer toe cannot be pulled straight and can be extremely painful. After time, the top of the toe may press up against the shoe, potentially causing corns or calluses (thickened skin), which are also painful.
The sooner a hammer toe is treated, the more favorable the outcome. If you suspect you have this condition, contact your doctor.
Hammer toe may be congenital (present at birth) or develop later. It occurs when there is a dislocation of the middle joint of the toe due to:
Occasionally, all toes may be bent; this may be due to problems with the peripheral nerves or the spinal cord.
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.
The following factors increase your chances of developing hammer toe. If you have any of these risk factors, tell your doctor:
If you experience any of these symptoms, do not assume it is due to hammer toe. These symptoms may be caused by other, less serious health conditions. If you experience any one of them, see your physician.
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical examination of the toe.
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include the following:
Severe cases require an operation to straighten the joint.
If you are diagnosed with hammer toe, follow your doctor's instructions.
RESOURCES:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
http://www.aaos.org
American Podiatric Medical Association
http://www.apma.org/s_apma/index.asp
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
BC Health Guide
http://www.bchealthguide.org
Nurses Entrepreneurial Foot Care Association of Canada
http://www.nefca.ca/default.asp
References:
Hammer toe. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=241&topcategory=Foot . Accessed August 26, 2005.
Hammer toe. Medline Plus. US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/0001235.htm . Accessed August 26, 2005.
Hammertoes. American Podiatric Medical Association website. Available at: http://www.apma.org/s_apma/doc.asp?TrackID=&SID=1&DID=9404&CID=371&VID=2&RTID=0&CIDQS=&Taxonomy=False&specialSearch=False . Accessed August 26, 2005.
Last reviewed November 2008 by John C. Keel, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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