What is a Hammertoe? 

Maybe your toes used to be straight, but you’ve developed some curling of the smaller ones. Maybe, this ‘curling’ has gotten worse over the last few years. The curling might be accompanied by a bunion deformity. You may have developed a hammertoe!

What is a hammertoe deformity, and why is it called that?

There are multiple joints in your lesser toes (toes 2 through 5), including your MTP joint (your knuckle), and the PIP and DIP joints of your toes. A hammer toe is a deformity where the middle joint flexes. It can occur in just one toe or multiple toes. 

Hammertoes are common foot deformities. Some hammertoes are flexible, but sometimes they become fixed or rigid. The bending of the toe can look like a hammer, thus the name.

What’s the difference between a hammertoe, a claw toe, and a mallet toe? 

A mallet toe is similar to a hammer toe, but it affects the toe joint nearest the nail. 

A claw toe occurs at your knuckle (MTP joint), and typically affects all of your little toes (2-4). Claw toes typically occur after bad trauma or in neuropathy. 

The orthopedic surgeons at Southwest Orthopedic Group and Dr. Stautberg can evaluate and take an XR of your foot to determine if you have a toe deformity. 

What causes a hammertoe?

There are many causes of a hammertoe. Shoes that are narrow or too tight at the toes can cause toes to hammer. Chronic bunion deformities can lead to hammertoes. 

Also, if patients develop an imbalance in their foot muscles, this can lead to hammertoes. 

Are hammertoes painful?

As hammertoes worsen, they can dig into the bottom of your shoe or the top of the shoe can rub on the knuckle. Some hammertoes can cause pain, but others are painless. 

Patients can develop callouses on the tips of their toes or on top of their toe where the joint is flexed. 

Are hammertoes hereditary?

Deformity of the toes can be hereditary. There is a genetic component to forefoot deformity, but many external factors, such as shoe wear, can contribute to hammertoes and other toe deformities. Still, if your mother or grandmother had a large bunion and ‘crooked’ toes, you might be more likely to develop hammertoes. 

Can hammertoes cause numbness?

Sometimes. The nerves are quite small in the toes, so they can be compressed by improper shoes or neighbor toes. The numbness can be caused by other sources too, including neuropathy or a Morton’s neuroma. 

How do I treat hammertoes? 

There are operative and nonoperative treatments for hammertoes. 

In general, properly fitting shoes with a wide and high toe box can help treat hammer toes. A Budin splint can treat flexible hammertoes that are able to be straightened out. Sometimes, hammertoes require surgery. 

The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) has more information about ankle fractures at FootCareMD.

For more questions or to set up an evaluation, contact Dr. Stautberg’s office at 281-977-4870. 

Author

Eugene Stautberg, MD