Hammer Toe Treatment in Edina and Burnsville, MN
Slow Down the Progression
Hammer Toe Q&A
What is hammer toe?
Hammer toe is a foot deformity affecting the joints in the second, third, and fourth toes. It rarely develops in the little toe. Instead of lying flat, hammer toe causes the affected toe to bend upward at the joint, putting extra pressure on the toe when wearing shoes. This abnormality can form painful corns at the joint or callus on the tip of the toe.
The contraction of the toe joint is caused by an imbalance between the leg or foot muscles and the toe’s tendon. This imbalance pulls on the tendon, causing the joint to bend.
Unless treated, hammer toe gets worse with time. The skilled podiatrists at Pinnacle Foot & Ankle Clinics recommend early treatment to prevent or delay complications.
What kinds of hammer toe are there?
The team classifies your hammer toe based on the degree of your deformity. The three types are:
Flexible hammer toe
With flexible hammer toe, you can move and straighten out the affected joint. This kind of hammer toe is the condition’s earliest stage.
Semi-rigid hammer toe
When the tendon starts to stiffen, you have a semi-rigid hammer toe. At this stage, you’ll have a harder time straightening the toe.
Rigid hammer toe
Rigid hammer toe occurs when the tendons tighten, preventing you from moving the toe.
What happens during a hammer toe evaluation?
The Pinnacle Foot & Ankle Clinics team takes an individualized approach to care. Your provider can diagnose hammer toe during an evaluation. Still, they complete a thorough exam to fully understand your deformity’s extent so they can design the most effective treatment plan.
The team reviews your symptoms and medical history and examines your feet and toes. They order onsite X-rays to assess the severity of the deformity.
How is hammer toe treated?
Treatments for hammer toe vary, depending on your foot problem and symptoms. Initially, the team takes a conservative approach and could recommend:
- Foot padding to prevent corns and calluses
- Custom-fitted orthotics (personalized shoe inserts)
- Change in footwear
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Splinting and strapping
If you have a painful or rigid hammer toe, the team could recommend surgery to fix the deformity. During hammer toe surgery, your podiatrist lengthens the contracted tendon by removing the knuckle in the toe joint.
Don’t delay hammer toe treatment.
