Posted on January 20, 2008 in Latest News
Hammertoe is simply the bending of one or both joints of the toes. A contracture of the tendons, laxity of the ligaments and the angulation of the second and third phalanges of the toe takes place.
Symptoms of Hammertoe
Hammertoe usually starts out with mild deformities which get worse with time. In the initial stages the bend is flexible and can be easily treated. But if ignored the hammertoe becomes rigid and gets difficult to treat.
Causes of Hammertoe
Hammertoe is primarily caused by imbalance of the muscle or tendon. This imbalance causes the toe to bend resulting in structural changes in the foot. Hammertoe is very commonly seen in women because female footwear is often tight and doesn’t have a wider front. Overuse of such kind of shoes often compresses the muscles and results in hammertoe.
Treatment of Hammertoe
Treatment of hammertoe involves surgical and non surgical methods.
Non surgical measures like trimming and padding of calluses or corns, changing footwear, using custom orthotic devices, medications, strapping or splint are commonly adopted.
Surgical Method
When hammertoe becomes rigid it doesn’t respond to the non-surgical methods of treatment. The surgical process of Arthroplasty is usually performed to correct the hammertoe by removing a small section of the bone from the effected joint. In another surgical process called Arthrodesis, the doctor fuses a small joint in the toe to straighten it.
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