Hammertoe is one of the most common foot conditions, which is associated with significant morbidity. These deformities may lead to chronic pain, compensatory gait changes, and callous formations. Given the negative effects this condition has on a patient, our world-class podiatrist in New Jersey Dr. Petkov is especially attuned to people struggling with hammertoes. He is among a few foot doctors who can painstakingly and accurately diagnose the condition and effectively treat it. Make a step towards pain-free life and call today to get back to living your life to the fullest.
Hammertoes are deformities of the feet that affect the second, third, or fourth toe. The affected toe bends from the middle joint in such a way that it resembles a hammer. This disorder results from an imbalance between the weak intrinsic muscles and the stronger extrinsic muscles that surround the MTPJ joints of the lesser digits.
Many people tend to overlook this foot condition without realizing how important the lesser digits are in the pressure distribution and balance of the foot. Hammertoes can be distinguished into three categories, including classic hammer toe, mallet toe, and claw toe. A thorough clinical evaluation of the patient is of the highest importance when aiming for desired outcomes.
The symptoms of hammertoes are normally very visible as the affected toe becomes bent, looking like a hammer. It is typically characterized by chronic pain that is exacerbated by shoewear and ambulation. Symptoms tend to gradually increase as the deformity progresses. Besides the appearance of the affected toe, a hammer toe often causes added foot pain.
You may develop additional symptoms, such as:
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There is a multitude of hammer toe causes. The reasons for this type of foot deformity are quite multifactorial, including acquired and congenital. Shoes are the main trigger for developing hammertoes. Shoes that are pointed, narrow, and tight cause the toes to crowd together instead of remaining flat. Over time, your toes stay in that bent shape even when you walk around barefoot, resulting in a deformity. High heels can cause foot injuries, but shoes that cramp your feet are especially harmful for flat feet.
Wearing high heels or poorly fitting shoes can lead to problems beyond hammer toes, such as:
Some of the most distinguishing causes of hammer toes are:
When you visit our podiatrist in New Jersey, he checks your problem toe. The examination includes manipulating your foot to see how your toes react. If your toes don’t flex well enough and you’re feeling pain, your condition may need more aggressive hammer toe relief procedures. Only a qualified podiatrist like Dr. Petkov can decide.
During your exam, it will be beneficial to retrieve diagnostic imaging to make sure there aren’t any other problems. You may have stubbed, jammed, or broken a bone in the toe, which caused the deformity. Foot or ankle fractures can force you to walk differently. You may also have toe bone spurs that are creating additional toe pain.
The two most common diagnostic imaging tests used during an examination are:
Simply switching shoes may help, especially if your hammer toes are in the early stages. Wear shoes that have a wider box around your toes. Always buy shoes that have a half-inch of leeway between your toes and the tip of the shoes. In case conservative treatments were to no avail, surgical correction of a hammertoe is the only effective option.
Before the surgical route is considered, various conservative treatments should be attempted. Patients are normally recommended to use shoes with a wide toe box to relieve pain and accommodate the deformities. High heels are forbidden because of the increased pressure on the forefoot.
Your doctor may also advise tapping or strapping the deformities that can potentially improve some alignment. These techniques are believed to be effective for addressing forefoot deformities. However, none of them are permanent solutions to hammer toes.
Other less invasive techniques for getting hammer toe relief include:
Surgical intervention might be the only option if the flexion contractures start forming and becoming constant along with pain. To correct flexible hammer toes, soft tissue release is typically employed. This procedure will maintain the structural stability of the toe. If you are dealing with a fixed hammer toe deformity, PIPJ arthrodesis or PIPJ resection arthroplasty may be used.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is a wide variety of factors that increase your risk of hammertoes, including:
Hammer toes normally start as mild deformities that become worse over time. During your initial appointment at our podiatry clinic in NJ, Dr. Pektov will explicitly disclose all the potential complications and how they can affect your life.
Some of the most common and well-known complications include:
According to the research, published on NCBI, the overall prognosis of a hammer toe deformity is good. The rate of recurrence is ranging up to 10%. It has been found that people that showed a greater transverse deformity pre-operatively experience a greater failure rate than those whose deformity is mainly in the sagittal plane. Recurrence tends to occur because of the tight flexor tendon or inadequate bone resection.
As mentioned above, a hammer toe is arguably the most common foot condition that affects millions of people worldwide. According to a survey published by the Institute of Preventive Foot Health (IPFH), nearly 3 percent of U.S. adults aged 21 and older are dealing with a hammer toe deformity. This accounts for almost 7 million U.S. citizens.
Reference List
1. Constant, D., & Goransson, M. (2020, July 18). Hammertoe. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559268/
2. Institute For Preventive Foot Health. (2021). Hammertoe. Retrieved from IPFH: https://www.ipfh.org/foot-conditions/foot-conditions-a-z/hammer-toe
Even if you end up doing at-home self-care, you must be under the supervision of a board-certified podiatrist like Dr. Petkov. Contact Premier Podiatry in Clifton, NJ today to make your appointment.
Premier Podiatry: Velimir Petkov, DPM
925 Clifton Ave, Ste 107
Clifton, NJ 07013
☎ (973) 315-5555