Our legs are our best friends; they work hard for us, carrying us all day, and our beautiful long legs always add to our personality. But sometimes, your long beautiful legs, or more specifically your long toe bone, can be the cause of a condition known as hammer toe. Hammer toe is a condition in which the middle portion of the toe bone curls up, and the end of your toe bends downwards, resembling a hammer or stiff claw. It can affect any toe in the leg but is most commonly found on the second toe. When the affected toe gets pushed and pressured while wearing the shoe, it causes pain and the formation of a callus, corn and blisters on the top of your bent toe or bottom part of your foot. Although hammer toe starts as a minor problem, it is flexible at first and can be cured with surgical treatment. However, if left untreated, the toe may become stiff and will not respond to any treatment.
Causes
The most common symptom of a hammer toe is a toe that looks like a hammer or a claw. The main causes of a hammer toe are:
- Long toe bones are more prone to bending downwards
- Wearing smaller tight shoes
- Wearing narrow and high-heeled shoes
- Pressure from a bunion, which is a bump that develops in the lower bone of the larger toe, causes the larger toe to bend toward the other smaller toes
- In rare cases, all the toes may cause a signal a problem with the nerves or spinal cord
- Rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, injury to the toe bone, muscle and nerve damage from diabetic neuropathy
- Having flat feet can also cause a hammer toe
- In a few conditions, it is inherited
Symptoms
Symptoms of hammer toe are so obvious. They include
- Downward bending and Claw-like appearance of the toe
- Stiff toe
- Callus and corn formation on the sole
- Pain near the bone that joins the big toe with the foot
- Pain while moving the toe
- Inflammation, irritation, and redness in the affected toe
- Formation of open sores in more severe cases
Diagnosis
The hammer toe can only be diagnosed after a thorough physical examination. During the physical examination, the bone contracture is examined and if necessary, an X-ray of the toe bone will be performed to determine the extent of deformity.
Treatment
Non-surgical treatments
Once your doctor has checked the flexibility of your affected toe, treatment will begin. If your toe is still flexibly affected, it may be treated non-surgically by tapping it or immobilizing it to a straightened position. Your physician may teach you exactly how to do this at home. They may also recommend corrective footwear, corn pads and other pain-relieving devices. Your doctor may also teach you some exercises, such as gently moving your toe with your hands, to keep it flexible. You may also use your toe to pick up small, light objects, such as marbles and towels. If your toe is painful or swollen, you may need to apply ice packs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help reduce your toe pain and swelling. If the swelling is severe, your doctor may recommend a steroid shot into the toe joint.
Surgical treatment
Surgical treatment is only recommended in serious cases. If the toe is very stiff, then surgery is the only way to straighten it. Surgery is performed under general anesthesia and you can go home immediately after the procedure. The type of surgery depends on the nature and deformity of your toe. If your toe has a moderate degree of flexion, then surgery may involve cutting or moving tendons to make the toe straight. If you have a severe condition and your toe is permanently stiff, surgery may be performed to realign tendons, remove some of the bent toes, and fuse the remaining joints to make your toe straight and shorter.
Prevention
Wearing proper, comfortable shoes can help you avoid many leg, ankle and toe problems. Make sure to check your shoe size, especially for kids who are growing up. Here are some tips for buying shoes:
- Never wear small or narrow shoes with pointed toes
- Avoid wearing heels
- Choose comfortable athletic shoes with a soft cushioning insole and a stiff bottom
- Avoid buying shoes made of plastic or vinyl as they don’t allow air to circulate when your feet sweat
- Choose shoes with adjustable laces
- Buy shoes in the middle of the day as your feet tend to swell in the morning and shrink in the evening
- Measure both feet as many shoes may not be the same size in both
Happy feet…
Many patients can have their hammer toe repaired. However, a successful outcome is only possible if it is diagnosed early and the correct treatment is administered at the correct time. Don’t put your feet in a tiny, uncomfortable shoe. Instead, place it in a comfortable position and help your feet breathe and sweat naturally. Happy feet will avoid many future complications.
