Our knowledge of orthopaedics. Your best health.

By Christina S. Plew, MBA

Editor’s note – The following is a sponsored article provided by Zimmer Biomet. Its content was reviewed and approved by the OrthoInfo Editorial Board. For additional information about hammer toe, visit The ReadyPatient.

If you have a hammer toe, or know someone who does, you may wonder what caused it.

A hammer toe, also referred to as claw toe or mallet toe, is an abnormal bend in the middle of one or more toes. This abnormal bend can:

• Cause the top of the toe to rub against the shoe, causing blisters, calluses, and/or corns, which can be painful
• Irritate the tip of the toe as it is forced downward^¹⁻³

(Left) A healthy toe. (Right) A hammer toe.

Hammer toes can develop because of:¹⁻³

• An abnormal balance of the toe muscles, tendons, and/ligaments
• Foot trauma (e.g., repeatedly stubbing the toe)
• Inflammatory conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis or gout)
• The fit of certain types of shoes
• Sex (women are more susceptible than men)

While hammer toe may not be completely preventable, the Mayo Clinic suggests a few things you can do to lower the risk of developing one.¹ 

• Since our feet swell throughout the day, consider shoe shopping at the end of the day. This may help ensure that your toes have enough room.
• Choose shoes with straps or laces, as they tend to be more adjustable to the needs of your feet than snug or slip-on shoes.
• If you have a hammer toe that is painful or causes difficulty when walking, you may want to talk to an orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon.

A lifelong writer, Christa S. Plew, MBA, completed her first book at age 8 on her grandma's typewriter. Since then, she has won several writing competitions and scholarships in both fiction and non-fiction genres. Throughout her career, Christa has written just about every type of content there is, from news stories, brochures, and ads to novels and short stories. She has also edited multiple novels, manuscripts, surgical techniques, and articles. Christa has served as president of the American Christian Fiction Writers Indiana Chapter, among other organizations.

References

1. Hammertoe and Mallet Toe (2018, Dec. 20). Mayo Clinic.
2. Hammertoe Surgery (n.d.) American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society FootCareMD. 
3. Hammertoe Repair (2019, Sep. 11) Aetna.