Thank you to today’s guest blogger, Mathew M. John, DPM, FACFAS of the Ankle & Foot Centers, PC

Hammertoe is a common deformity of the foot where the toe contracts or bends at the joints. The two joints involved are the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) and the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ). The most common joint contracture is at the PIPJ. Claw toe type hammertoes involve contractures at both the PIPJ and DIPJ. The main cause of hammertoes is an imbalance of muscles within the foot and leg and can be influenced by tight fitting shoes. Hammertoes can also develop from having a bunion deformity. A bunion will typically lean under and against the 2nd toe causing it to contract up. This leads to an imbalance of the tendons and can lead to a 2nd toe hammertoe crossing over the Great Toe. Hammertoes most often affect the 2nd toe next to the Great Toe but can affect the 3rd, 4th and 5th toes. A 5th toe hammertoe typically will also curve inward towards the 4th toe in many foot types. Many people who have inherited certain foot types can develop hammertoes over many years. Flat feet as well as severely high arched foot types often will develop hammertoes. A hammertoe starts out as a mild contracture and then progressively increases in severity over several years. Mild hammertoes are flexible and can be manipulated to become straight as opposed to severe hammertoes which are fixed and rigid and cannot straighten through simple manipulation. This fixed type of hammertoe deformity can only be corrected by surgery. (more tomorrow!)

Hammertoe