Hammertoe Los Angeles

What is Hammertoe?

Hammertoe is a contracture–or bending–of one or both joints of the second, third, fourth, or fifth (little) toes. This abnormal bending can put pressure on the toe when wearing shoes, causing problems to develop. Hammer toe usually affects the second toe. However, it may also affect the other toes causing them to move into a claw-like position.

During your consultation for hammertoe, you should be candid and honest when asked about:

1.the type of shoes you wear
2.the number of toes involved
3.your activity level
4.your age
5.the severity of the hammertoe
6.the symptoms you are feeling
7.other questions pertaining to your foot health (occupation, injuries, etc…)

Symptoms of Hammertoe:

Hammertoes usually start as mild deformities and get progressively worse over time. In the earlier stages, hammer toes are flexible, and the symptoms can be managed with noninvasive measures. But if left untreated, hammertoes can become more rigid and will not respond to non-surgical treatment. Corns are more likely to develop as time goes on–and corns never really go away, even after trimming. In more severe cases of hammertoe, open sores may form.

1.Pain or irritation of the affected toe when wearing shoes.
2.Corns (a buildup of skin) on the top, side, or end of the toe, or between two toes. Corns are caused by constant friction against the shoe. They may be soft or hard, depending upon their location.
3.Calluses (another type of skin buildup) on the bottom of the toe or on the ball of the foot.

Corns and calluses can be painful and make it difficult to find a comfortable shoe. But even without corns and calluses, hammertoes can cause pain because the joint itself may become dislocated.

Because of the progressive nature of hammer toes, they should receive early attention. Hammer toes never get better without some intervention.

Causes of Hammertoe:

The most common cause of hammertoes is wearing short, narrow shoes that are too tight for your feet, causing your toes into a bent position. This causes the muscles and tendons in the toe to tighten and become shorter.

Other causes of hammertoe include:

Hammertoes are often aggravated by repeated stress to the area due to occupation or hobby
Women who wear shoes that do not fit well or have high heels
Children who keep wearing shoes they have outgrown
Hammertoe can also be caused by some kind of trauma, such as a previously broken toe.
Hammertoe may be inherited. Studies have shown that genetics may play a role in this disorder.
Hammertoe can be caused by muscle or tendon imbalance as a result of pronation, a very subtle type of gait that causes various types of hammertoe deformities.
Hammertoe can be caused by neurological conditions including diabetic neuropathy

We Made Them All Happy

” Dr. Jamshidinia has been my go to foot doctor for years now. It seems like I always used to get small problems with my feet until Dr. J treated me and gave me some amazing tips. My friends used to tell me that they were told never to wear their high heels after they started having bunions, but after Dr. J treated mine, he gave me these amazing at home remedies that allowed me to wear my heels without worrying about bunions always forming.”

Kayla C. / Bunions – Los Angeles, CA

Hammertoe Surgery Los Angeles – Hammertoe Treatment Beverly Hills

Non-Surgical Minimally Invasive Hammertoe Treatment Options

There are several treatment options for hammertoe. The treatment a podiatrist selects will depend on the symptoms you are experiencing. The severity of your hammertoe, previous procedures, and other factors will determine the treatment.

A number of non-surgical treatment options are available for hammertoe including:

1. Trimming corns and calluses. This should be done by a healthcare professional. Never attempt to do this yourself, because you run the risk of cuts and infection. Your foot and ankle surgeon knows the proper way to trim corns to bring you the most significant benefit.
2. Padding corns and calluses. Your foot and ankle surgeon can provide or prescribe pads designed to shield corns from irritation. If you want to try over-the-counter pads, avoid the medicated types. Medicated pads are generally not recommended because they may contain a small amount of acid that can be harmful. Consult your foot and ankle surgeon about this option.
3. Changes in footwear. Avoid shoes with pointed toes, shoes that are too short, or shoes with high heels – conditions that can force your toe against the front of the shoe. Instead, choose comfortable shoes with a deep, roomy toe box and heels no higher than two inches.
4. Orthotic devices. A custom orthotic device placed in your shoe may help control the muscle/tendon imbalance.
5. Injection therapy. Corticosteroid injections are sometimes used to ease pain and inflammation caused by hammertoe.
6. Medications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are often prescribed to reduce pain and inflammation.
7. Splinting/strapping. Splints or small straps may be applied by the foot and ankle surgeon to realign the bent toe.

Outpatient Minimally Invasive Hammertoe Surgery:

If your hammertoe is treated early, you can avoid the need for surgical correction. For severe hammertoes, you will need an operation to straighten the joint. Although your surgical procedure depends on the extent and type of hammertoe you have developed, in general:

1.The surgery involves cutting or moving tendons and ligaments in the affected area.
2.In certain cases the bones on each side of the affected joint will be fused together.
3.Removing a small section of the bone from the affected joint.
4.The use of a pin to hold the toe in position while the bones heal.

Depending on the severity of the hammertoe and the patient’s specific foot health, other treatments may be indicated to achieve the desired result. Some of these procedures include:

1.Removing the wedges of the skin of the toes.
2.Tendon / muscle rebalancing or lengthening.
3.Small tendon transfers.
4.Relocation of surrounding joints.

Often patients with hammertoe have bunions or other foot deformities that will need to be corrected at the same time. The length of the recovery period will vary, depending on the procedure or procedures performed. We perform our procedures in an outpatient setting. Dr. Jamshidinia is board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Dr. Jamshidinia offers treatment at outpatient surgical centers located in the Los Angeles area. They provide an excellent setting for this surgical correction and allow patients to go home the same day following treatment or surgery.