The feet may get less attention than your face. Nonetheless, you can still notice changes, such as the toes starting to curl. It may initially only seem like an aesthetic concern, but toe deformities impact more than the looks. If your toes, mainly the third or fourth, bend in the middle, resembling a hammer, the main culprit is Huntsville hammertoes.
Causes
Hammertoe is an abnormal bend mainly caused by:
- Trauma: Foot injuries such as jam, stub, or breaking your toe can cause it to bend abnormally, resulting in a hammertoe.
- Shoes: Tight or high-heeled shoes increase the risk of developing hammertoes. The toes are crowded in tight spaces, meaning they can’t lie flat and are mainly curled. The curl persists even when barefoot as hammertoe develops.
- Imbalanced toe muscles: Imbalance leads to instability, forcing the toes to contract, gradually curling and developing hammertoe.
Risk factors
Hammertoe risk increases with age. The deformity is more prevalent in females than in men. It could also be genetic, including concerns like having a longer second toe than the big toe. Medical conditions also increase hammertoe risks. For instance, arthritis makes you prone to developing foot deformities, hammertoe included.
Symptoms
Besides the unsightly look, hammertoes also come with other symptoms, including:
- Pain that worsens with movement or trying to wear shoes
- Inflammation, swelling, redness, or burning sensation
- Corns and calluses
- Rigid toe joint limiting efforts to straighten it
Diagnosis
The initial hammertoes screening is usually a physical exam. This helps the doctor determine how flexible or rigid the toe joint is, informing their next measures, such as appropriate intervention and treatment. The doctor can also recommend imaging tests, mainly X-rays. Imaging tests provide a detailed view of the dense structures in your foot, which can confirm the diagnosis and the extent of the damage. If you are battling other conditions like diabetes on concerns affecting your sensation in the feet, the doctor may need further testing. The tests help determine if the toe deformity is a result of tendon imbalance caused by neurological concerns.
Treatment
If you seek medical attention early, hammertoe can easily be corrected with measures like revising the footwear. Avoiding high-heel, tight, and narrow shoes can help stop the condition from worsening. Custom orthotics could also be used, which helps with posture. Splinting could also help. Exercise can also help, especially that is designed to stretch and strengthen muscles in the foot and toes. The treatment could also include medication such as anti-inflammatory medication.
If the hammertoe has developed extensively, you may need invasive treatments. In such cases, non-invasive corrections may have failed, or the toe joint has grown rigid and is immovable. Surgical hammertoes treatments include:
- Tendon transfer: Involves transferring tendon from the bottom to the top of the toe aimed at helping pull the joint into a more straight position.
- Tendon lengthening: The treatment targets and lengthens the tendons causing joint imbalances.
- Arthrodesis or joint fusion: The treatment involves tendon lengthening and cutting a part of the bone in your toe joint to help it extend fully.
Hammertoes do not only make it harder to rock your swimsuit and showcase your lovely feet. They can be painful and impact your ability to manage daily living activities. Seeking medical attention when the damage isn’t extensive is recommended, helping you avoid invasive treatments like surgery. Call Foot and Ankle Specialists today for more on hammertoes and available correction options.