Hammertoes

HAMMERTOE - CLAWTOE - MALLETTOE

A hammer toe or contracted toe is a deformity of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the smaller toes causing them to be permanently bent, resembling a hammer. Mallet toe is a similar condition affecting the distal interphalangeal joint.

Claw toe is another similar condition, with dorsiflexion of the proximal phalanx on the lesser metatarsophalangeal joint, combined with flexion of both the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints. Claw toe can affect the second, third, fourth, or fifth toes.

Hammer toe most frequently results from tight flexor tendons due to foot pronation (collapse) combined with wearing poorly fitting shoes that can force the toe into a bent position, such as excessively high heels or shoes that are too short or narrow for the foot. Having the toes bent for long periods of time can cause cartilage damage (arthritis) in addition, the muscles in them shorten, resulting in the hammer toe deformity. This is often found in conjunction with bunions or other foot problems (e.g., a bunion can force the big toe to turn inward and push the other toes).