What it is
Hammertoes develop when the tendon balance across the toe is disrupted — often by a bunion pushing the second toe out of position, or by years in shoes that crowd the forefoot. Early on, the toe can still be straightened by hand.
Over time the joint contracts and the deformity becomes rigid. Painful corns develop on top of the buckled joint where it rubs against the shoe, and calluses form under the ball of the foot as pressure redistributes.
Symptoms we look for
- A toe bent downward at the middle joint
- Corns on top of the toe or between the toes
- Callus under the ball of the foot
- Pain in enclosed shoes
How we treat it
- Roomier footwear and toe padding
- Custom orthotics to redistribute forefoot pressure
- Splinting while the deformity is still flexible
- Tendon release or transfer for flexible hammertoes
- Joint resection or fusion for rigid deformity
When to see a podiatrist
Come in while the toe can still be straightened by hand. A flexible hammertoe can be corrected with a soft-tissue procedure; a rigid one requires bone work.
Common questions
Can I straighten a hammertoe without surgery?
Only while it is flexible, and only partially — splinting and padding relieve symptoms and slow progression rather than reversing the deformity.
Are hammertoes related to bunions?
Very often. A bunion that pushes the big toe sideways crowds the second toe, which then buckles.