EDUCATIONAL WRITE UP ON HAMMER TOES
Hammertoes are bent toes or contracted toes. Hammertoes can cause pain in shoes as well as create painful corns and calluses.
Hammertoe is a bending deformity of one or both joints of the second, third, fourth or fifth toes. This abnormal bending can put pressure on the toe when wearing footwear, shoes, causing problems to develop.
Hammertoes usually start out as mild deformity and then get worse over time.
In the early stages, hammertoes are flexible and the symptoms can often be managed with noninvasive methods.
But if left untreated, hammertoes can become more rigid and will not respond to nonsurgical treatment.
Because of the progressive nature of hammertoes, they should receive early attention. Hammertoes never get better without some kind of intervention.
Causes of HAMMER TOES
The most common cause of hammertoe is a muscle/tendon imbalance. This imbalance, which leads to a bending of the toe, results from mechanical (structural) or neurological changes in the foot that occur over time in some people.
Hammertoes may be aggravated by shoes that do not fit properly. A hammertoe may result if a toe is too long and is forced into a cramped position when a tight footwear or shoe is worn. Occasionally, hammertoe is the result of an earlier trauma to the toe. In some people, hammertoes are inherited.
Symptoms of HAMMER TOES
Common symptoms of hammertoes include:
Pain or irritation of the affected toe when wearing shoes.
Corns and calluses (a buildup of hard skin) on the toe, between two toes or on the ball of the foot. Corns are caused by constant friction against the shoe. They may be soft or hard, depending on their location.
Inflammation, redness or a burning sensation, In more severe cases of hammertoe, open sores may form.Contracture of the toe may develop.
Diagnosis
Although hammertoes are readily apparent, to arrive at a diagnosis, your Diabetic foot surgeon will obtain a thorough history of your symptoms and examine your foot. During the physical examination, the doctor may attempt to reproduce your symptoms by manipulating your foot and will study the contractures of the toes. In addition your foot surgeon may take x-rays to determine the degree of the deformities and assess any changes that may have occurred.
Hammertoes are progressive—they do not go away by themselves and usually they will get worse over time. However, not all cases are alike—some hammertoes progress more rapidly than others. Your Diabetic foot surgeon after evaluation will chart a treatment plan that suites to your needs.
Nonsurgical Treatment
There is a variety of treatment options for hammertoe. Your foot surgeon will select treatment will depend on the severity of your hammertoe and other factors.
A number of nonsurgical measures can be undertaken:
Treatment for hammertoes includes wearing deep toebox shoes.
Surgical management
When Is Surgery Needed?
In some cases, usually when the hammertoe has become more rigid and painful or when an open sore has developed, surgery is needed.
A simple surgery can straighten and/or derotate a painful hammertoe.
Consult your Diabetic Foot surgeon about this option.
Prevention of acquired hammer toes
Changes in footwear and shoes
Avoid shoes with pointed toes, shoes that are too short, or shoes with high heels—conditions that can force your toe against the front of the shoe.
Instead, choose comfortable shoes with a deep, roomy toebox and heels no higher than two inches.
A custom orthotic device or splints prescribed by your Diabetic foot surgeon after complete evaluation placed in your shoe may help control the muscle/tendon imbalance.
Often, patients with hammertoe have bunions and other foot deformities corrected at the same time.
In selecting the procedure or combination of procedures for your particular case, your Diabetic foot surgeon will take into consideration the extent of your deformity, the number of toes involved, your age, your activity level and other factors. The length of the recovery period will vary, depending on the procedure or procedures performed.
Hammer toes can be serious if left untreated can lead to callus, ulceration and bone infection – osteomyelitis which might lead to amputation in later stages of neglected