Hammer toe

Hammer toe is a condition in which a toe assumes a bent downward position like a claw. The condition can be present at birth or acquired from wearing short, narrow shoes. The symptoms of hammer toe include foot pain, callus formation on the sole of the foot or corn formation on the top of the affected toe. Treatment of mild cases and cases in children can include foot manipulation and splinting of the affected toe. More severe cases may require surgery to straighten the toe joint.

Review Date: 12/23/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.