When Is Surgery Necessary for Hammertoes?

A hammertoe describes a deformed joint in any of the four small toes on each foot. If you’ve got a toe joint that points upward, won’t lie flat, and begins to lose its flexibility, chances are you’ve got a hammertoe.

How did you get it? Well, most hammertoes are the result of an internal imbalance between tendons and muscles. You may have inherited a tendency to get hammertoes from one of your parents or grandparents, and you may have inadvertently made it worse by wearing narrow or tight shoes. Hammertoes can also develop with arthritis and after certain kinds of toe injuries.

We start with non-surgical treatments

Our board-certified podiatrists can often treat hammertoes solely through conservative methods. We might recommend a change in footwear, an orthotic shoe insert or toe pad to relieve pressure, toe exercises, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medication to reduce swelling and pain.

Sometimes surgery is the only option

Some common complications of hammertoes include

• difficulty wearing shoes

• painful corns that develop on top of the toe

• open sores at the joint site

• progression in the joint from somewhat flexible to rigid and unmoving

• severe pain when walking that orthotics can’t relieve

If you decide that you can no longer live with these complications, it’s time to consider surgery. Depending on what’s going on in your joint, surgical correction of a hammertoe may involve bone realignment, tendon release, or insertion of metal pins to keep the joint straight.

If hammertoes are interfering with your daily activities and you’re looking for relief, consult the expert foot surgeons at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Dr. Samantha Boyd, Dr. Hal Ornstein, Dr. Dan Phan, and Dr. Joseph Saka welcome your inquiries about toe surgery and all other ailments of the feet and ankles. Call us for an appointment in Howell or Jackson at (732) 905-1110 or contact us online.