Hammer Toe - Treatment

Treatment

In many cases, conservative treatment consisting of physical therapy and new shoes with soft, spacious toe boxes is enough to resolve the condition, while in more severe or longstanding cases orthopedic surgery may be necessary to correct the deformity. The patient's doctor may also prescribe some toe exercises that can be done at home to stretch and strengthen the muscles. For example, the individual can gently stretch the toes manually, or use the toes to pick things up off the floor. While watching television or reading, one can put a towel flat under the feet and use the toes to crumple it. The doctor can also prescribe a brace that pushes down on the toes to force them to stretch out their muscles. Some treatment options involve surgery. Traditional ways have been the use of k-wires, but now there are treatments that don't require pins protruding through the ends of the toes. For example, the MiToe implant requires only one surgery. Unlike the k-wire, these implants remain within the toe, requiring no uncomfortable removal procedures. Due to their permanent implantation status, these devices are regarded as a more reliable solution for hammertoe. Because there are no protruding elements that need to be accounted for, the wearing of normal footwear may be resumed quickly after surgery, depending on the advice of the surgeon and the comfort needs of the patient.