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Treatment of Hammer Toe & Claw Toe in Düsseldorf

Digitus malleus - Deformity of the Small Toes

Claw or hammer toes, known in Latin as digitus malleus, are deformities of the small toes that can lead to a reduced quality of life over time. These toes look almost identical but differ in that a claw toe is hyperextended at the base joint and bent at the middle and end joints. A hammer toe is only bent at the end joint. They are usually painless, but over time, corns can develop due to pressure inside the shoe, which can be very painful. Women are generally more affected by this condition than men.

Causes of Claw or Hammer Toes

Causes of Claw or Hammer Toes

In addition to genetic predisposition, existing conditions such as splayfoot, flatfoot, or clubfoot can also be considered as causes for this diagnosis. Occasionally, the cause is a hallux valgus, a deviation of the big toe towards the smaller toes.

However, the most common cause by far is the prolonged wearing of tight shoes with high heels. This explains why women are more often affected than men.

Symptoms of Claw or Hammer Toes

Symptoms of Claw or Hammer Toes

The appearance of claw and hammer toes is very characteristic and allows the doctor to diagnose this condition through visual inspection alone. While the hammer toe is only bent at the end joint, the claw toe is hyperextended at the base joint and bent at the middle and end joints. As a result, it no longer has contact with the ground.

An additional X-ray can confirm the diagnosis. It can also reveal the presence of possible changes due to wear and tear/osteoarthritis.

The Treatment of Claw Toes & Hammer Toes

The Treatment of Claw Toes & Hammer Toes

The treatment of claw and hammer toes in Düsseldorf is definitely advisable, as over time, due to the increasingly limited space in footwear, pressure points and corns develop, which are known to be extremely painful. In the early to moderate stages, conservative treatment should first be carried out with suitable orthopedic aids such as insoles and splints, known as orthoses.

If the condition is advanced or a stiffening has already occurred, surgery is unavoidable. This involves repositioning the long extensor tendons and removing bony parts of the middle and end phalanges.

The surgical procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis and is risk-free. After about 4 weeks, the patient can walk normally and is permanently freed from the misalignment of their toes.

To ensure that you do not reach an advanced stage of claw or hammer toes, or if this has already occurred, we are happy to advise you in a personal consultation, as you will be in the hands of experienced foot surgeons with us.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Hammer toes can be treated through various measures, including exercises to strengthen the foot and toe muscles, wearing appropriate shoes and shoe inserts, and physical therapy. In some cases, surgical correction may be necessary.
Similar to hammer toes, claw toes can be treated with conservative measures such as physiotherapeutic exercises, appropriate footwear, and shoe inserts. If these measures are not successful and pain or mobility issues persist, surgery may be necessary.
Hammer toes and claw toes are both deformities that affect the toes, but in different ways. A hammer toe is bent at the middle joint, causing the toe to take on a hammer-like shape. A claw toe, on the other hand, is bent at both joints, resulting in a claw-like shape.
A claw toe is bent at both joints, causing the toe to take on a claw-like shape. This deformity can occur in any toe, but it most commonly affects the smaller toes.
Treatment for claw toes can include conservative measures such as wearing appropriate footwear, special inserts, splints or pads, and physiotherapeutic exercises to strengthen the muscles. If these measures are not successful, surgery may be necessary.
Treatment for a hammer toe can include shoe inserts, special padding, physiotherapeutic exercises, and wearing appropriate shoes. If these conservative measures are not sufficient, surgical correction may be necessary.
Any surgery can be associated with some pain, both during the procedure and in the recovery phase. However, pain relief medications are typically used to manage this. The pain after hammer toe surgery is usually manageable and subsides within a few days or weeks.
Orthopedic inserts can help with claw toes by improving pressure distribution in the shoe and increasing comfort. The inserts should be custom-fitted to achieve optimal effectiveness. An orthopedist or podiatrist can recommend the best type of insert for your specific case.
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