Hammertoe surgery — Downtown Podiatry Physicians

Are you beginning to see a shift in the way your toes line up or perhaps you’re past that point and have developed a significant hammertoe. You don’t have to live with the pain, discomfort, or worrying about how your feet look anymore. Downtown Podiatry Physicians is the answer.

If you’re looking for hammertoe treatment in New York City or the surrounding area, contact our offices today to schedule an appointment. Our top-rated hammertoe experts will work with you to find a customized solution to your hammertoes.

Hammertoe is a contracted-toe deformity that typically affects the second, third, or fourth toe. It is a progressive condition in which a toe joint points upward instead of lying flat. Hammertoes can cause pain, rub inside shoes, and make regular footwear difficult to wear.

Hammertoes and mallet toes are two different conditions but it’s not uncommon for them to occur together. When a person has a hammertoe, the middle joint of the toe is affected. A mallet toe happens when the joint closest to the toenail is affected.

Both joints are affected in the same way, so hammertoe and mallet toe are the same condition, they just affect different joints.

Hammertoes come in differing levels of severity, which puts them into three classifications.

When you're at the beginning stages of hammertoe development, the deformity is relatively slight so your joint still has some or all of its movement.

This is the next stage of development, and you'll begin to experience a loss in your range of motion.

At this point, the deformity has progressed so much that there is no longer any flexibility or motion in the toe because tendons and soft tissue have tightened.

Hammertoe is easy to spot because it’s a physical deformity that changes the shape of the toe and how it lies in relation to the ground. Visual symptoms are usually the first clue that something is happening and that a hammertoe is developing.

In addition to seeing physical changes in your toes, hammertoes and mallet toes can cause pain or blisters from rubbing inside of shoes and eventually those sore spots toughen up and form calluses. Look for these hammertoe symptoms:

Anyone can develop hammertoes, but several common causes and contributing conditions can prompt their development.

Regular wearing of high-heeled shoes or shoes that have a pointy, tight, or short toe box that crowds the toes and forces them into unnatural positions.

An injury to the foot, even just stubbing your toe with significant force, can damage the digit and make it less stable, which over time can lead to hammertoe.

If your gait is compromised, then you’re not getting the natural stability you should when walking. This can lead to your toes compensating by constantly gripping, leading to repetitive use injuries and potential hammertoe situations.

Bunions can push the big toe toward the others and cause the smaller toes to adapt in a way that promotes hammertoes.

Conditions that weaken or damage muscles, nerves, or joints can change how the foot works and contribute to hammer or mallet toes.

Several factors can increase the likelihood of developing hammertoes:

In some situations, doing foot and toe strengthening exercises can build health in the muscles and joints of the foot, which may delay the progression or development of hammertoes.

One of the biggest steps you can take, if you want to prevent the development of hammertoes or mallet toes, is wearing shoes that fit properly.

While physical therapy or foot exercises and better shoe choices can help prevent hammertoes, they’re also a big part of your treatment options. If your deformity has progressed even further and you’re in the rigid stages of hammertoe, then exercises may not be an option.

In these situations, surgery is the best hammertoe treatment available.

If you suspect you might have a hammertoe or that you might simply be at risk for developing hammertoes, stop in one of our downtown New York offices to have a discussion with our staff. Our podiatrists are experts in hammertoe treatment and can help you manage your concerns if you seek early care.

Some conservative hammertoe treatment options include:

Using different pads and taping toes can provide your toes the support they need to normally function and can delay progression of hammertoes.

Much like using padding and tape, a splint forces the toe into the correct position and may help slow the progression of any deformities.

Customized orthotics and shoe inserts provide support that’s designed to help your foot function in a normal fashion.

Taking over-the-counter or prescribed pain medications may be part of your treatment plan. This is not a cure nor a fix for hammertoes and other treatment will be necessary, but it will relieve some symptoms.

One effective way to relieve pain is by having cortisone or other steroid shots in the affected joints.

As mentioned previously, working on strengthening or maintaining strength in your feet can be a key aspect of foot health.

If your hammertoe is the result of diabetes, arthritis, or any other health condition, part of your treatment plan will be to address the contributing illness as well. All-over health is a critical part of having healthy feet and our doctors want you to live the healthiest life possible.

When conservative treatment is no longer enough, surgery may be recommended to straighten the toe, reduce pain, and improve shoe fit. The procedure depends on the rigidity of the deformity and the condition of the joint and surrounding tissues.

Rest assured, you are in experienced hands when you trust Downtown Podiatry Physicians for your toe surgery. Our foot and ankle surgical team combines advanced techniques with individualized treatment planning to help patients pursue safe, durable outcomes.

Before surgery, your doctor will review the procedure, answer questions, and consider your lifestyle, activity level, and overall health. Follow the care team’s instructions about eating, drinking, medications, clothing, and transportation.

On surgery day, you will arrive before the procedure to complete preparation and review the plan with your surgical team. Most hammertoe surgeries are outpatient procedures.

Hammertoe surgeries are typically performed with local anesthesia, which is a numbing agent for the toe and surrounding region. There is also a relaxing anesthesia that’s given to help you feel comfortable during the procedure.

You will not be able to drive home after your surgery. This no-driving order will be in place for several days post-surgery. It’s best to check with your doctor to see when they believe you’ll be able to drive safely.

You may receive a boot to protect your foot after surgery. Crutches, a walker, wheelchair, or leg scooter may also be provided. Arrange your home so you can move around safely during recovery.

Your medical team will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor healing and prevent complications. Visits may include x-rays, dressing changes, range-of-motion exercises, pain management, splinting, or toe spacers.