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Academy Foot and Ankle
1940 East State Hwy 114 Suite 150Southlake, TX 76092817-424-3668
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  • Home
  • Our Doctors
    • Paul T. Marciano, D.P.M.
    • Gregory J. Amelung, D.P.M.
    • Joel Dacus, D.P.M.
    • Philip Parr, DPM, MS
    • Larissa P. Rolim D.P.M., M.S.
    • Masoud Moradi, DPM, FAAPSM
    • Jennifer Sofranec, PT
    • Dr. Dorian Jimenez
  • Our Offices
    • Southlake
    • Keller (Fort Worth)
    • Hurst
    • Flower Mound
  • Conditions We Treat
    • Ankle Surgery
      • Ankle Arthroscopy
      • Total Ankle Replacement
      • Chronic Ankle Instability
      • Achilles Tendon Repair
    • Arthritis
      • Arthritis
      • Arthritis Surgery
      • Hallux Limitus/Hallux Rigidus
      • Spurs
      • Freiberg's Disease
      • Gout
      • Charcot Foot
    • Ball of Foot Pain
      • Capsulitis
      • Metatarsalgia
      • Metatarsal Surgery
      • Neuroma
      • Sesamoiditis
    • Bunions/Bunionettes
      • Bunions
      • Hallux Limitus/Hallux Rigidus
      • Tailor's Bunion (Bunionette)
      • Hallux Varus
      • Bunion Surgery
    • Congenital Deformities
      • Clubfoot
      • Dysplasia
      • Enchondroma
      • Gordon Syndrome
      • In-toeing
      • Jackson-Weiss Syndrome
      • Overlapping or Underlapping Toes
      • Pediatric Flatfoot
    • Corns/Calluses
      • Corns
      • Calluses
      • Heel Callus
    • Crossover Toe
    • Diabetic Foot
      • What Is Diabetes?
      • Diabetic Foot Care
      • Peripheral Arterial Disease
      • Osteomyelitis (Bone Infection)
      • Charcot Foot
      • Neuropathy
      • Gangrene
      • Ulcers
      • Diabetic Complications: Amputation Prevention
      • Diabetic Shoes
    • Equinus
    • Flatfeet
      • Flatfeet
      • Pediatric Flatfoot
      • Adult Flatfoot
      • Flatfoot Correction
      • Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
      • Tarsal Coalition
    • Fractures/Trauma
      • What Is A Fracture?
      • Toe Fractures
      • Foot Fractures
      • Ankle Fractures
      • Pediatric Fractures
      • Stress Fractures
    • Hammertoes
      • Hammertoes
      • Mallet Toes
      • Claw Toes
      • Hammertoe Surgery
      • Crossover Toe
    • Heel Pain
      • Plantar Fasciitis or Heel Pain
      • Spurs
      • Plantar Fibromas
      • Haglunds Deformity
      • Pediatric Heel Pain (Sever's Disease)
    • Ingrown Toenails
    • Nail Fungus
      • Black Toenails
      • Common Fungal Problems
      • Nail Fungus
    • Nerve Conditions
      • Neuropathy
      • Alcoholic Neuropathy
      • Neuroma
      • Spasms
      • Ulcers/Wounds
      • Neurolysis
      • Charcot Foot
    • Pediatric Conditions
      • Children's Feet
      • Pediatric Flatfoot
      • Pediatric Heel Pain (Sever's Disease)
      • Tarsal Coalition
      • Pediatric Fractures
      • Kohler's Disease
      • Intoeing
      • Athlete's Foot
      • Smelly Feet and Foot Odor
      • Ingrown Toenails
      • Warts
    • Skin Conditions
      • Allergies
      • Athlete's Foot
      • Blisters
      • Neuropathy
      • Common Fungal Problems
      • Calluses
      • Chilblains
      • Corns
      • Cysts-Ganglions
      • Frostbite
      • Nail Fungus
      • Gangrene
      • Heel Fissures
      • Kaposi's Sarcoma
      • Lesions
      • Psoriasis
      • Smelly Feet/Foot Odor
      • Swelling
      • Ulcers/Wounds
      • Warts
    • Strains/Sprains/Sports Medicine
      • Achilles Tendon Repair
      • Ankle Sprain Injuries
      • Athletic Foot Care
      • Chronic Ankle Instability
      • Osteochondritis of the Ankle
      • Peroneal Tendon Dislocation/Dysfunction
      • R.I.C.E. Protocol
      • Shin Splints
      • Spasms
      • Sports Injuries
        • Baseball Injuries
        • Basketball Injuries
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        • Rugby Injuries
        • Running and Track Injuries
        • Soccer Injuries
        • Softball Injuries
        • Tennis Injuries
        • Volleyball Injuries
      • Turf Toe
    • Tendonitis
      • Achilles Tendonitis
        • Xanthomas of the Achilles Tendon
      • Extensor Tendonitis
      • Posterior Tibial Tendonitis
    • Toenail Conditions
      • Ingrown Toenails
      • Nail Fungus
      • Subungal Exotosis
    • Vascular Conditions
      • Peripheral Arterial Disease
      • Acrocyanosis
      • Chilblains
      • Erythromelalgia
      • Ischemia
      • Raynaud's Phenomenon
      • Ulcers/Wounds
      • Venous Stasis and Vericose Veins
    • Warts/Soft Tissue Masses
      • Cysts-Ganglions
      • Warts
  • Patient Education
    • Basic Foot Care Guidelines
    • Bunion Prevention
    • Foot Care For Seniors
    • Foot Fitness
      • Foot Self-Exam
      • Self-Assessment Quiz
    • Nutrition For Your Feet
    • Top Foot Problems
    • Pedicures
    • Shoes
      • Anatomy of a Shoe
      • Athletic Shoe Guidelines
      • Childrens Shoes
      • Corrective and Prescription Shoes
      • Shoes: What To Look For
      • Getting a Proper Fit
      • Diabetic Shoes
      • Men's Shoes
      • Women's Shoes
      • Your Footprint
      • Wear Patterns
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    • Alcohol Injections
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Hammertoes

What Is Hammertoe?

Hammertoe is a contracture (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.

Hammertoes usually start out as mild deformities and get progressively worse over time. In the earlier stages, hammertoes are flexible and the symptoms can often be managed with noninvasive measures. But if left untreated, hammertoes can become more rigid and will not respond to non-surgical treatment.

Because of the progressive nature of hammertoes, they should receive early attention. Hammertoes never get better without some kind of intervention.

Causes
The most common cause of hammertoe is a muscle/tendon imbalance. This imbalance, which leads to a bending of the toe, results from mechanical (structural) changes in the foot that occur over time in some people.

Hammertoes may be aggravated by shoes that don’t fit properly. A hammertoe may result if a toe is too long and is forced into a cramped position when a tight shoe is worn.

Occasionally, hammertoe is the result of an earlier trauma to the toe. In some people, hammertoes are inherited.

Symptoms
Common symptoms of hammertoes include:

  • Pain or irritation of the affected toe when wearing shoes.
  • Corns and calluses (a buildup of skin) on the toe, between two toes, or on the ball of the foot. Corns are caused by constant friction against the shoe. They may be soft or hard, depending upon their location.
  • Inflammation, redness, or a burning sensation
  • Contracture of the toe
  • In more severe cases of hammertoe, open sores may form.

Diagnosis
Although hammertoes are readily apparent, to arrive at a diagnosis the foot and ankle surgeon will obtain a thorough history of your symptoms and examine your foot. During the physical examination, the doctor may attempt to reproduce your symptoms by manipulating your foot and will study the contractures of the toes. In addition, the foot and ankle surgeon may take x-rays to determine the degree of the deformities and assess any changes that may have occurred. 

Hammertoes are progressive – they don’t go away by themselves and usually they will get worse over time. However, not all cases are alike – some hammertoes progress more rapidly than others. Once your foot and ankle surgeon has evaluated your hammertoes, a treatment plan can be developed that is suited to your needs.

Non-surgical Treatment
There is a variety of treatment options for hammertoe. The treatment your foot and ankle surgeon selects will depend upon the severity of your hammertoe and other factors.

A number of non-surgical measures can be undertaken:

  • 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 surgeon about this option.

  • Changes in shoewear. 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.
  • Orthotic devices. A custom orthotic device placed in your shoe may help control the muscle/tendon imbalance.
  • Injection therapy. Corticosteroid injections are sometimes used to ease pain and inflammation caused by hammertoe.
  • Medications. Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, may be recommended to reduce pain and inflammation.  Note:  Please consult your physician before beginning any new medications.
  • Splinting/strapping. Splints or small straps may be applied by the surgeon to realign the bent toe.

When Is Surgery Needed?
In some cases, usually when the hammertoe has become more rigid and painful, or when an open sore has developed, surgery is needed.

Often patients with hammertoe have bunions or other foot deformities corrected at the same time. In selecting the procedure or combination of procedures for your particular case, the foot and ankle surgeon will take into consideration the extent of your deformity, the number of toes involved, your age, your activity level, and other factors. The length of the recovery period will vary, depending on the procedure or procedures performed. 

Patient Education

Patient Education Menu
  • What is a Podiatrist?
  • When To Call a Doctor
  • Foot Anatomy
  • Overview of Foot and Ankle Problems
  • Basic Foot Care Guidelines
  • Foot Problems
    • General Statistics
    • Achilles Problems
      • Achilles Tendonitis
      • Peroneal Tendon Dislocation/Dysfunction
      • Xanthomas of the Achilles Tendon
    • Ankle Problems
      • Ankle Sprain
      • Chronic Lateral Ankle Pain
      • Osteochondritis
    • Arch and Ball Problems
      • Capsulitis
      • Flat Feet (over pronation)
      • Metatarsalgia (foot pain in ball)
      • Plantar Fibromas (lumps in the arch of the foot)
      • Sesamoiditis
    • Common Foot Injuries
      • Ankle Sprain Injuries
      • Broken Ankle
      • Fractures
      • Osteochondritis (stiff ankle)
      • Osteochondromas
      • Shin Splints
      • Sports Injuries
    • Deformities
      • Amniotic Band Syndrome
      • Bunions
      • Claw Toe
      • Clubfoot
      • Dysplasia (Epiphysealis Hemimelica)
      • Enchondroma
      • Flat Feet
      • Gordon Syndrome
      • Haglund's Deformity
      • Hallux Limitus (Stiff Big Toe Joint)
      • Hallux Rigidus (Stiff Big Toe)
      • Hallux Varus
      • Hammertoes
      • Jackson-Weiss Syndrome
      • Mallet Toes
      • Metatarsalgia
      • Osteomyelitis (Bone Infections)
      • Overlapping or Underlapping Toes
      • Peroneal Tendon Dislocation/Dysfunction
      • Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
      • Sesamoiditis
      • Spurs
      • Tarsal Coalition
    • Diabetes and Your Feet
    • Diseases of the Foot
      • Arthritis
      • Cancer
      • Charcot Foot
      • Freiberg's Disease
      • Gout
      • Kaposi's Sarcoma (AIDS related)
      • Kohler's Disease
      • Maffucci's Syndrome
      • Ollier's Disease
      • Raynaud's Disease
      • Sever's Disease
      • Sever's Disease
    • Fungus Problems
      • Common Fungal Problems
      • Athlete's Foot (Tinea Pedis)
      • Fungal Nails
    • Heel Problems
      • Haglund's Deformity
      • Heel Callus
      • Heel Fissures
      • Plantar Fasciitis (heel spur)
    • Nail Problems
      • Black Toenails
      • Ingrown Toenails
      • Nail Fungus
    • Skin Problems
      • Allergies
      • Athlete's Foot (tinea pedis)
      • Blisters
      • Burning Feet
      • Calluses
      • Corns
      • Cysts
      • Frostbite
      • Fungus
      • Gangrene
      • Lesions
      • Psoriasis
      • Smelly Feet and Foot Odor
      • Swelling
      • Ulcers
      • Warts
    • Toe Problems
      • Bunions
      • Claw Toe
      • Digital Deformity
      • Hallux Limitus (stiff big toe joint)
      • Hallux Rigidis (rigid big toe)
      • Hallux Varus
      • Hammertoes
      • Intoeing
      • Overlapping, Underlapping Toes
      • Subungal Exotosis (bone spur under toenail)
      • Turf Toe
    • Vascular/Nerve Problems
      • Acrocyanosis
      • Alcoholic Neuropathy
      • Chilblains (cold feet)
      • Erythromelalgia
      • Ischemic Foot
      • Neuroma
      • Spasms
      • Venous Stasis
  • Medical Care
    • Diagnostic Procedures
      • Computed Tomography
      • MRI
      • Ultrasound
      • X-Rays
    • Orthotics
    • Pain Management
      • General Information and Tips
      • Pain Management for Specific Conditions
    • Surgical Procedures
      • General Information
      • Achilles Surgery
      • Ankle Surgery
      • Arthritis Surgery
      • Arthroscopy
      • Bunion Surgery
      • Cyst Removal
      • Flatfoot Correction
      • Hammertoe Surgery
      • Heel Surgery
      • Metatarsal Surgery
      • Nerve Surgery (Neuroma)
      • Toe Surgery
    • Therapies
      • Athlete's Foot Treatment
      • Cryotherapy
      • Extracorporeal Shock Wave
      • Iontophoresis
      • Physical Therapy
      • Neurolysis
  • Fitness and Your Feet
    • General Information About Fitness and Your Feet
    • Aerobics
    • Fitness And Your Feet
    • Sports and Your Feet
      • Baseball
      • Basketball
      • Cycling
      • Golf
      • Jogging and Running
      • Tennis
    • Stretching
    • Walking and Your Feet
    • Work Footwear
  • Foot Care
    • Basic Foot Care Guidelines
    • Athletic Foot Care
    • Blisters
    • Children's Feet
    • Corns and Calluses
    • Diabetic Foot Care
    • Foot Care For Seniors
    • Foot Self-Exam
    • Pedicures
    • Self-Assessment Quiz
    • Women's Feet
      • High Heels
      • Stockings?
      • Pregnancy
      • Women Over 65
    • Your Feet at Work
    • Bunion Prevention
    • Burning Feet
    • Fungus Problems
      • Athlete's Foot
      • Common Fungal Problems
      • Fungal Nails
      • Other Tips
      • Prevention
    • Ingrown Nails
    • Osteoporosis
    • Foot Odor and Smelly Feet
      • Prevention
      • Treating Foot Odor
  • Shoes
    • Anatomy of a Shoe
    • Athletic Shoe Guidelines
    • Children's Shoes
    • Corrective and Prescription Shoes
    • What To Look For
    • Getting a Proper Fit
    • Men's Shoes
    • Women's Shoes
    • Your Footprint
    • Wear Patterns
  • Links
    • Government
    • Associations/Groups
    • Online Resources


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Our Locations

817-424-3668 (FOOT)

1940 East State Hwy 114,
Suite 150
Southlake, TX 76092
 New loaction
 6501 Precinct Line Road
 Suite 100,
 North Richland Hills, TX 76182
 
4444 Heritage Trace Pkwy.,
Suite 400
Keller, TX 76244
5810 Long Prairie Rd.,
Suite 400
Flower Mound, TX 75028
 
Office Hours
Monday:9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday:9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday:9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday:9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday:9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday:Closed
Sunday:Closed
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