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A hammertoe is a toe that bends downward at the middle joint instead of lying flat. It usually develops gradually, most often affects the second, third or fourth toe, and is one of the more common structural changes seen in feet over time.
Why a toe bends
Each toe is balanced by tendons pulling from the top and the bottom. When that balance is disturbed, the toe can begin to sit in a bent position. Over time the joint may become accustomed to that position.
Several things are commonly associated with it: foot structure inherited from your family, footwear that crowds the toes over many years, and changes that follow other foot conditions. A bunion, for instance, can crowd the neighbouring toe and contribute to a hammertoe developing beside it.
Flexible and rigid
The distinction that matters most is whether the toe still straightens. A flexible hammertoe can still be moved into a straight position. A rigid one has stiffened in place and no longer moves through its full range.
This distinction is a large part of what an examination establishes, because a flexible toe and a rigid toe are not the same situation.
Why it is more than cosmetic
A bent toe changes where pressure falls. The raised joint can rub against the top of the shoe, and the tip of the toe can take load it was not meant to carry. That is why hammertoes are often accompanied by corns or calluses in specific spots, and why footwear becomes uncomfortable.
For anyone with diabetes or reduced sensation in the feet, those pressure points warrant closer attention, because skin under sustained pressure can break down without being felt.
When to have it evaluated
It is reasonable to have a bent toe looked at if it hurts, if it is making shoes difficult to wear, if the skin over it is breaking down or repeatedly forming a corn, if it is becoming stiffer, or if you have diabetes or neuropathy.
An evaluation establishes what stage the toe is at and what the sensible options are, which differ considerably depending on whether the joint still moves.
If a toe has started to bend or is making footwear uncomfortable, our Chillicothe office can examine it and talk through what the options are.
This article is general information about a common foot and ankle condition. It is not medical advice and it is not a diagnosis of your own symptoms. If something is wrong with your foot, have it examined.
Care at Bends Foot and Ankle is provided by Eric Storts, DPM, FACFAS, board certified podiatric foot and ankle surgeon.