About this topic
Your toes are made of small bones. Strong bands of tissue called ligaments hold the bones together. Other strong bands called tendons connect muscles to bones. A hammer toe is a deformity of a toe. The joint between the first and second bones in the toe rises upwards. This causes the toe to look like a hammer. The ligaments and the tendons become tight and shorten. ‚
There are two types of hammer toes: ‚
- At first, you may be able to bend and straighten the toe. This is a flexible hammer toe.
- Over time, you may not be able to move the toe. This is a rigid or fixed hammer toe.
This problem can happen in the second, third, and fourth toes. It is most common in the second toe. Often with a hammer toe, the skin thickens at the top of the toe. This is a corn. Thickness on the underside of the toe is a callus. For severe hammer toe, you will need surgery to straighten the joint. This procedure is called hammer toe correction. This surgery will move and straighten your toe back to the right position. ‚
View OriginalView Original
View OriginalView Original
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Your doctor may put on a splint or straps to keep your toes straight while they heal. Keep in place.
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Prop your foot up on pillows to help with swelling.
- Your doctor may teach you how to use crutches, a cane, or a walker to take pressure off your toes.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work or driving
- Be sure to wash your hands before touching your wound or dressing.
- Ask your doctor if you should be stretching your foot or ankle. Your doctor or therapist can show you safe ways to stretch.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to visit the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks. If you have pins, your doctor will remove them after 2 to 4 weeks
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Prevent or fight an infection
Will physical activity be limited?
You may need to rest your foot for a while. You should not do physical activity that makes your health problem worse. If you run, work out, or play sports, you may not be able to do these things until your health problem gets better. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Bleeding
- The joints and bones of your toe get stuck and no longer move. This is contracture.
- Nerve damage
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, or wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Pain or swelling gets worse
- Numbness and tingling get worse
- Toe is cold and pale
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Helpful tips
- Your doctor will give you a card stating you have metal hardware inside your toes. Carry this card with you when you go to airports and buildings with metal detectors.
- Follow your doctors advice about wearing comfortable shoes.
- Avoid heels higher than 2 inches.
- Wear shoes with wide toe boxes.
- Shoes should be 1/2 inch longer than your longest toe.
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have more pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, or my toe is cold and pale.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00160 ‚
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ‚
http://www.aofas.org/footcaremd/conditions/ailments-of-the-smaller-toes/Pages/Hammertoe.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚