Hammertoes

A hammertoe is a term used to describe a crooked, deviated, or contracted toe. Contrary to popular belief, hammertoes are usually not caused by ill or tight fitting shoe gear but by an imbalance in the way the bones of the foot are aligned. Over a period of years, the tendons that move the toe up and down begin to pull the toe with unequal tension, and the toe then begins to buckle or become contracted. Normally hammertoes by themselves are not painful, but with shoe gear the prominent knuckle of the toe rubs the shoe, producing an area of irritation which eventually forms a corn.

Conservative care may include padding, wider shoes, thicker socks, or even orthotics to try to correct the underlying imbalance. If the problem cannot be managed and produces continual pain, then surgical correction can be accomplished either in the offices or at an outpatient surgical center.

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