A Variety of Shoes
Hammer Toe Correction: Non-Surgical And Surgical Options
Tessa Jean
If you suspect you suffer from hammer toe, which is a foot condition that causes one or more toes to become stuck in a bent position that resembles a hammer, then you may wonder what your treatment options are. When hammer toe first develops, it can often be corrected with non-surgical treatment. However, more advanced hammer toes often need surgical treatment to help straighten the bent joint and relieve the pain it causes.
Read on to learn about the variety of hammer toe treatment options available today, including non-surgical treatments and surgery options.
Non-Surgical Hammer Toe Treatments
Since the most common cause of hammer toe is the frequent wear of ill-fitting shoes and/or high heels that exert too much pressure on toes, one important part of non-surgical hammer toe treatment is making the switch to more ergonomic shoes. Ideally, hammer toe sufferers should stop wearing high heels and only wear closed-toe shoes that have a roomy toe box that exerts no pressure on toes when walking.
In addition, a podiatrist may prescribe an orthotic to place in your shoe(s) that place the hammer toe in a position that further reduces the pressure placed on the toe when walking and running.
Physical therapy exercises that help stretch the tight tendons in hammer toes and help correct muscle imbalances in these toes can also help ease the condition and encourage toe joints to begin functioning properly again.
Hammer Toe Surgery Options
If your podiatrist decides that your hammer toe is too advanced to treat non-surgically, then you may be presented with a variety of hammer toe surgery options.
Tendon Lengthening
Tendon lengthening surgery can eliminate hammer toe when the problem stems from a too-short toe tendon alone. Tendon lengthening is typically performed with a tendon release surgery that involves making a lengthwise cut in a short tendon that encourages it to stretch and then heal in this stretched position.
Joint Fusion
Proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint fusion is the most common hammer toe surgery performed today. During this surgery, the ends of the two bones that make up the affected joint are cut and a wire is used to attach the bones together and encourage the bone ends to fuse together to eliminate the joint altogether. This wire is removed after bone fusion occurs.
Hammertoe Implant Surgery
A newer type of hammer toe surgery is performed by implanting one or more rods or screws inside of the affected toe that hold the toe in a more ergonomically correct position. Unlike the wire place during joint fusion surgery, these rods or screws are never removed to eliminate the inconvenience of having a fusion wire in place for several months and the additional procedure needed to remove it.
If you have one or more toes that seem to be stuck in a bent position, then visit a podiatrist to discuss your hammer toe treatment options, including non-surgical hammer toe treatments and/or hammer toe surgery.
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Growing up, I was never very interested in buying a large quantity of shoes to pair with my outfits. I rarely owned more than five or six pairs of shoes at any given time. I usually wore either my favorite pair of sneakers, boots, flats, or heels everywhere I went. When I married my amazing husband ten years ago, my shoe closet expanded. My generous spouse encouraged me to buy some several pairs of cute shoes to match my clothing. After shopping for new shoes, I was hooked. Now, I rarely wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. Thankfully, I’ve learned that wearing a different type of shoe each day is good for my foot health. On this blog, you will discover the most important benefits of wearing a different kind of shoe every day of the week.