Hammertoe is a widespread foot issue. With this condition, one of the toes on your foot becomes deformed and appears to bend awkwardly. This condition occurs when muscles or tendons in one of your toes shortens or hardens causing a deformity of the joint. The most commonly affected toes are the second, third, and fourth. If you have a hammertoe, it can be beneficial for you to get some more information about this condition. 

Below are 6 interesting and useful facts about hammertoe you might like to know. 

1. Types of hammertoe

There are three types of hammertoe deformity. The first is flexible hammertoes, when it is still developing. With this type of deformity, the affected toe remains flexible and movable. The second type is semi-rigid hammertoe, or when it stiffens. The last type is a rigid hammertoe. During this stage, you cannot move your toe because the tendons and soft tissues have tightened. If you don't start treatment at the first stage, your flexible hammertoe may quickly become rigid. 

2. Wearing proper shoes is crucial

Wearing the right and well-fitting shoes is usually the first-line treatment for hammertoe. It is crucial to avoid wearing tight shoes, stilettos, flip-flops, and shoes with pointed toes. To prevent further development and treat hammertoe, you need to choose the shoes that allow your toes to move freely and don’t press your toes. Before buying a new pair of shoes, try to wiggle your toes to make sure they have enough space. 

3. Hammertoe can run in families

Even if you don’t wear ill-fitting shoes or stilettos, you still may develop a hammertoe. This condition often runs in families, particularly because of flat feet. Flat feet cause uneven weight distribution in the foot. When muscles try to stabilize your foot, they often force your toes in an unnatural position. This causes uneven pressure on the tendon and muscles, making your toes move into a hammertoe position. 

4. Muscle imbalance can cause deformity

When some of the muscles in your foot become weaker than others, this can cause deformity of the foot. Muscle weakness leads to the contracture of the toe, resulting in hammertoe. The muscle weakness can result from genetic factors or because of underlying conditions. Some of the conditions that can contribute to muscle weakness include a high arch or flat feet. 

Wearing ill-fitting shoes can also cause muscle imbalance and result in a hammertoe. Tight shoes can compress the toe and cause muscle imbalance. Wearing high heels and flip-flops also makes you more susceptible to the development of muscle weakness and hammertoe. 

5. Medications and injections usually help manage symptoms

If you have an early stage of hammertoe, over-the-counter pain medications can help relieve the symptoms. But if OTC medications cannot relieve the symptoms, your doctor may suggest corticosteroid injections or prescribed pain medications. Injections with corticosteroids can relieve inflammation and improve the range of motion very fast because they are injected directly into the affected area. 

However, corticosteroid injections aren’t a permanent solution. Using them for too long can damage surrounding joints and bones. 

6. Surgery is the last resort

If conservative treatment options failed to help and you still have severe symptoms, then your doctor can recommend surgery to correct the deformity. There are several surgeries to treat hammertoe. Traditional surgery is a proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint fusion. During this procedure, the surgeon straightens and stabilizes your toe by permanently connecting two bones. The doctor cut the ends of the bones in the affected toes and attaches a wire to hold them together. 

The newer surgical options include implanting permanent rods and screws in your toe. During these surgeries, the doctor doesn’t have to remove the part of your toe or stick bones. This also helps to keep your toe straight if you injure your foot later on. 

The recovery after both these procedures takes about 8 weeks. You’ll have to wear a special post-surgical shoe that ensures a healing process and offloads weight. The hammertoe surgery has a high success and low complication rate.