Mallet toe, claw toe and hammer toe are all deformities relating to the smaller toes.
Mallet toe, claw toe and hammer toe are all deformities relating to the smaller toes.
Small toe deformities can be the result of injuries to the toes and neighbouring tissue and tendons caused by:
The toes have a misshapen appearance and painful calluses develop due to friction between your toe and shoe, and also on the ball of your foot, which may protrude abnormally, a condition called metatarsalgia. Patches of hardened/rough skin may develop on the toe and ball of the foot. Left untreated, infection can occur in these calluses.
You will be invited to outline your symptoms with your consultant at your initial appointment. Your consultant will guide you to the most appropriate treatment and may also organise X-rays to determine your bones’ length, and further investigate deformities, including bunions.
Surgery is by no means necessary for all patients with small toe deformities. Straightening your toes non-surgically using a combination of special medical shoes and pressure-relieving insoles can be enough to solve the problem. However, should this not prove effective, your consultant may recommend you undergo toe fusion surgery to straighten the toe at its end without reducing the foot’s overall flexibility.
