Alexis Dixon is an orthopedic foot and ankle specialist at DISC where she commonly diagnoses and treats arthritis of the foot and ankle, tendinitis and tears of the peroneal, Achilles, and posterior tibial tendons, flatfoot deformity, osteochondral lesions, plantar fasciitis, hallux valgus/bunions, hallux rigidus/arthritis of the great toe, deformities of the lesser toes, metatarsalgia, Morton’s neuroma, ankle sprains and turf toe, among all other injuries of the foot and ankle, including sports and degenerative injuries. More information can be found at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Hammer Toe. Surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis with a local anesthetic. They become dangerous when any shoe wear causes enough rubbing to create a sore that can become infected. If left untreated, the hammer toe can become fixed and require surgery. If addressed early, hammer toes are flexible and can be treated with simple solutions such as wearing roomier shoes or simple stretching exercises. Eventually, this leads to wear and tear within the joints of the toe, which results in a stiff deformity. Over time, the pressure being exerted on the toe causes the muscles to contract to the point that they can no longer straighten the toe even when there is no shoe. Hammer toe is caused by improperly fitting shoes such as high heels or shoes with a narrow toe, but also is an inherited condition. Most procedures are performed on an outpatient basis they may require downtime or time away from work for recovery.įor more information about the treatment of hammer toes in the greater Cincinnati area, please call our offices at 85.Hammer toe is a deformity that can occur in any of the three middle toes in which the toe is bent down at the middle joint, causing pain or immobility of the affected toe. Surgery is performed in an attempt to reposition the toe, remove deformed or injured bone, and realign If the toe has become rigid and is causing too much pain, your physician may choose to surgically address the deformity. Flexible hammer toe(s) can be alleviated by simply wearing properly fitting shoes. A hammer toe is a deformity of the lesser toe joints where the toe is flexed downward leaving a painful bump on the top of the toe. To treat mild hammer toe, the physicians at Foot Specialists of Cincinnati can start with conservative methods-such as padding, shoe gear selection/modification, or anti-inflammatory medications. Treating hammer toe varies depending on the severity of your condition.
There are generally two types of hammertoe: flexible and rigid. Because of this, hammer toe can become a serious problem-this is especially true for people with diabetes-that could affect your ability to walk. Hammer toes tend to worsen over time, so it’s important to seek medical treatment when they first begin to form. A hammertoe is a contracture in a toe where the tendon can pull the toe from the bottom or the top, explains Bradley Schaeffer, DPM, a Board Certified Foot and Ankle Surgeon. Women are at a higher risk of developing hammer toe compared to men-this is usually a result of shoe choice. Most cases of hammer toe are reported on the second or third toe. Hammer toes can be flexible or rigid and they can affect any toe on your foot. This deformity is typically the result of a muscle imbalance between the tendons on top and the tendons on the bottom of the toe.
A hammer toe is a deformity of the foot that causes toes to bend or curl in a downward fashion rather than point forward.