Problems With Your Little Toes
Your little toes
help to balance and propel your body when you move. As your foot flatten, the little toes bend to grip the ground.
Then they straighten, acting like levers to help you push your foot so you can walk, run, or dance. But if the front
of your foot is wide, you may develop a problem known as a hammer toe. Hammer toes are little toes that
buckle or curl under. Over time, these toes may hurt and make movement more difficult. But you don't have to live
with pain. With your doctor's help, even severe hammer toes can usually be treated so you can move more easily. |
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What Are Hammer Toes?
In general, the term "hammer toe"
describes a buckling of any of the toe joints. Joints at the end or middle of the toe, as well as the joint near the
ball of the foot, may be affected. Toe joints usually curl because of a muscle imbalance of tight tendons. Hammer toes
vary in severity and in the number of joints and toes involved.
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Physical Exam
Your doctor will examine all your toes, testing weather or not buckled joints can be moved. Your feet will also be
checked for any skin changes. Corns (a buildup of dead skin cells) often form between curled toes or on top
of buckled joints where shoes rub. If irritated, corns may turn into open wounds and become infected.
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Testing
X-rays may be taken of a curled toe to show the amount of deformity. An x-ray may also show whether or not
the joint is affected by arthritis.
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Types of Hammer Toes
Hammer toes may be flexible
or rigid, depending on the joint's ability to move. A flexible joint may become more rigid as you age. |
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A Flexible Joint
You can straighten a flexible hammer toe with your fingers. Although they look painful, flexible hammer toes
may not hurt. |
A Rigid Joint
A rigid hammer toe cannot be moved, even with the fingers. Rigid joints may cause pain and distort foot movement.
This may put extra stress on the ball of the foot, causing a callus (a corn on the bottom of
the foot). |
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Treating Hammer Toes
If your symptoms are mild,
changing shoes may be all the treatment you need. Using a splint or pad to hold your toes straight also may help.
Or try cushioning corns and calluses with felt padding. If your symptoms are severe, surgery may be needed. The type
of procedure often depends on whether your toe joints are flexible or rigid. |
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Flexible Joints
To release a buckled joint,
the thight tendon (often the bottom one) is cut and repositioned. |
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Rigid Joints
A piece of bone may be removed to help straighten a rigid toe. With either surgery, a pin may be used to hold the
remaining bone in position during healing. With arthroplasty, part of the curled joint is cut away. The
"gap" fills in with fibrous tissue. With fusion, the joint cartilage is removed. The toe bones heal
as one longer bone. |
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After Surgery
Almost all hammer-toe surgeries
are out-patient procedures. In fact, you may even be able to bear weight on your foot by the time you go home.
For best results, however, you may need to wear a surgical shoe for several weeks.
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The First Few Weeks
Your foot will be bandaged after
surgery, and you may need to wear a surgical shoe to support the foot during healing. Your doctor may recommend
a special dressing to limit swelling. Elevation and ice can also help. For best results, raise your foot above
heart level and apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes. Protect your skin by placing a towel between the ice pack and your skin.
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Proper Shoes
Help make surgery a success by wearing
shoes that fit your feet. Shoes should be long enough and wide enough to keep all your toes comfortable.
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