How Do You Know If You Have a Hammertoe?

Hammertoe contracture (abnormal bending) can affect any one of the toe joints, even the big toe (hallux malleus). Usually emerging as a mild deformity that often goes unnoticed, a hammertoe will worsen and worsen unless the toes are treated. In its early stages, a hammertoe remains flexible. Later, it can become stiff and painfully rigid. Symptoms of early stage hammertoe such as soreness or achiness can be managed without treatment by not wearing tight or pointed-toe shoes. Shoes with more room

For the toes, or custom made inserts/orthotics may provide relief from hammertoe discomfort if the toe is still flexible and not too badly bent and the causative tendon imbalance is repositioned so as to balance out the foot. 

In addition to wearing ill-fitting shoes, you may be at risk for hammertoe development if you have arthritis, high or very low arches, muscle weakness, bunions or calluses that restrict toe movement or have a tendon/muscle imbalance that forces you to bend your toes when walking. This tendon/muscle imbalance often occurs in people as subtle neurological or anatomical changes that affect their walking pattern. 

Unless a podiatrist provides hammertoe correction, the hammertoe eventually becomes severely deformed and bent. Open sores from an untreated hammertoe rubbing constantly against other toes or the shoes can develop and are prone to infection. When hammertoes fail to respond to noninvasive treatment, your podiatrist may recommend hammer toe surgery, a minimally invasive procedure that restores flexibility and toe joint functioning is a preferred choice of most patients as they can have the procedure in the office at more affordable price, often not requiring anesthesiologists fees, heart monitor fees, facility costs, and elevated material fees that hospitals and auto centers charge.  Foot Factor Podiatry even offers a cash pay options that include platelet rich plasma injections, shockwave, and/or amniotic injections during the procedure to further reduce healing times and promote quick and less painful recovery times. 

Can Hammertoe Surgery Be Avoided?

In some cases, yes, but it depends on how a hammertoe responds to noninvasive treatment. Padding and strapping the toes may help prevent or delay a hammertoe from worsening. Wearing properly fitting shoes with room for the toes (ex: diabetic shoes) and heels less than two inches high is another suggestion. Your podiatrist may prescribe customized orthotic inserts that reduce tendon/muscle imbalances. To relieve hammertoe discomfort, some people opt for corticosteroid injections to ease inflammation.

Although you can delay worsening of a hammertoe by following these standard treatment suggestions, don't wait too long to visit a podiatrist for a diagnostic evaluation of your hammertoe. Surgery may be needed if x-rays show a significant abnormality affecting the toe.

When is Hammertoe Surgery Necessary?

Hammertoes that are increasingly painful, inflexible or accompanied by open sores should be corrected by hammer toe surgery. An outpatient procedure performed in less than a couple hours, hammertoe surgery involves your podiatrist repositioning affected toes, removing any damaged or deformed bones within the toe bone cuts to decompress the joint, and realigning your toe joint with possible tendon releases and capsule releases. Patients go home the same day they have hammertoe correction surgery and can walk on the feet with a surgical shoe or walking boot. 

What to Expect After Hammer Toe Surgery

The first few days after surgery, one can expect noticeable swelling and some discomfort. Elevating one’s foot helps minimize swelling. Keeping one’s foot propped up on pillows as much as possible is recommended to reduce swelling and pain.

An ice pack on top of the foot upon arriving home following surgery. Wrap ice in a thick towel or put ice cubes in a plastic bag to prevent bandages from getting wet.

Ibuprofen or Tylenol can help, one must be sure to follow podiatrist's instructions. Patients are often prescribed pain medication depending on the type of hammertoe surgery the patient needed. Some hammertoe correction procedures can cause more discomfort than others.

Hammertoe Surgery Wound Care

The most important wound care instruction is to keep bandages as clean and dry as possible. In most cases, the podiatrist will schedule an appointment for an initial bandage change.

Cover the foot with something that protects it from getting wet when taking a bath or shower. The doctor will tell when it is safe to get the foot wet. Making sure bandages and the incision remain dry and clean promotes healing and significantly decreases the risk of infection.

Often antibiotics are prescribed for patients take during the first week of recovery. Patients should be sure to take all antibiotics prescribed to prevent infection. Not all hammertoe surgery patients will receive antibiotics, depending on the type of surgery they require and other factors involving general and immune system health.

Visit  the podiatrist as scheduled for all check-ups. Within one to two weeks following surgery, the podiatrist will remove the stitches. Never attempt to remove stitches at home. Removing stitches too early or too late can interfere with proper healing of your hammertoe.

What Type of Postoperative Footwear is Recommended?

Patients usually are sent home after hammer toe surgery wearing a special surgical boot designed to provide extra support for the foot. A surgical boot will also keep toes aligned properly to facilitate healing. Patients should not start wearing regular shoes when they get home. The need to leave the surgical bootie shoe on until the podiatrist tells the patient it can be removed.

Just because the patient had successful hammer toe surgery doesn't mean he/she/ they can return to wearing ill-fitting shoes. Doing so is likely to cause the hammertoe to return or induce another medical problem within the toe that requires extensive treatment or another surgery. The podiatrist can help  patients chose the right type of footwear they need to keep their toes and feet in excellent shape.

Call Foot Factor Podiatry to Schedule an Appointment

If a hammertoe or other foot or toe problem is causing pain, contact us today to make an appointment with Dr. Hays for a comprehensive assessment of the foot issue. Foot Factor Podiatry provides minimally invasive foot and ankle surgeries performed in the office, outpatient surgicenter,  or hospital. Patients can go home the same day they have surgery.

Call 877-287-1962 to speak to a friendly staff member who will be happy to answer questions about hammer toe surgery.