Are you finding that your second, third, or fourth toes aren’t bending and straightening the way they should? If you notice your toes getting stuck into an odd position, you may be suffering from hammer toe. Lake Pointe Orthopaedics will collaborate with our patients to navigate hammer toe treatment options.
What is Hammer Toe?
The medical condition is commonly known as “hammer toe” is a deformity that occurs at the middle joint, the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, on the second, third, or fourth toe. Essentially, due to various causes, the toe gets stuck in this bent condition that resembles a hammer.
When this happens, it can result in swelling, redness, the inability to straighten the toe, difficulty walking, and/or a callus on the middle joint or tip of the toe.
What Causes Hammer Toe?
In the foot, muscles work in pairs to straighten or bend the toes. However, where there is a muscle imbalance, it can put pressure on the toe tendons and joints. If left unattended, the muscles and joints tighten and get stuck in a bent position, unable to stretch back out.
What commonly causes this muscle imbalance is the use of improper footwear. Shoes that narrow at the toes or high heels cause the foot to work unnaturally, putting pressure in places it is ill-equipped to handle.
Hammer Toe Treatment Options
There are both non-surgical and surgical hammer toe treatment options, depending on the severity of the case.
Non-surgical hammer toe treatment options often begin with a change in footwear. If changing one’s footwear doesn’t help, there are over-the-counter remedies that your doctor may recommend.
You will likely need a surgical hammer toe treatment option if your hammer toe is severe. Depending on your specific case, your doctor may recommend tendon lengthening, a tendon transfer, a joint fusion, or an alternative method.
The best way to know which hammer toe treatment option is right for you is to visit your local orthopaedic surgeon for a consultation and examination.
Lake Pointe Specialist Coming Soon
Lake Pointe Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine is proud to announce that we will have a new foot and ankle specialist joining our team on October 1st, 2022. Dr. Daniel Weido is a Podiatric Foot & Ankle Surgeon who was raised in the suburbs of Houston, Texas. He received his bachelor’s degree from Abilene Christian University in 2014. He went on to complete his medical education at Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine & Surgery. After completing his medical education, Dr. Weido went on to complete a three-year surgical residency in foot & ankle surgery at Tucson Medical Center in Arizona, where he was trained extensively in reconstructive foot & ankle surgery, sports medicine, and limb salvage.
Dr. Weido’s primary clinical interests include reconstructive foot & ankle surgery, fracture care, sports medicine, limb salvage, and general care of the foot & ankle. He is a member of the American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons and the American Podiatric Medical Association. In addition, Dr. Weido is board qualified by the American College of Foot & Surgeons in both Forefoot and Rearfoot surgery.