Hammertoe

An everyday complaint, often developing on the second toe, frequently on both sides. Due to a dropped transversal arch the toes curl as the phalanges form an inverted V-shaped hump.

• Symptoms
  A painful corn develops on the hump. The patient reacts sharply not only if it is rubbed by the shoe but even if touched by a blanket.
• Treatment
  • For children affixing the deformed toe to the neighbouring toes by a plaster is sufficient.
  • For adults a simple surgical procedure is performed, removing a small section of the bone from the joint, then straightening and fixing the toe. The callous comes off by itself. The development of hammer toe can be prevented by wearing properly made orthotic insoles.