Fax: (239) 692-9436
Tel: 239-430-3668A hammertoe causes the toe to bend abnormally at the middle joint. Over time the joint can become deformed and rigid, and the raised knuckle rubs against the top of the shoe — leading to corns or calluses, pain, and difficulty moving the toe.
What Causes Hammertoes
Wearing ill-fitting, high-heeled, or pointy-toed shoes is among the most common causes, because they crowd the toes into a bent position. Other contributors include inherited foot structure (such as unusually long toe bones), a previous toe injury, and inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. A muscle-tendon imbalance is usually the underlying mechanism that pulls the toe into the bent shape.
Hammertoe Tendon Release — No Blades, No Sutures
The patient in the video below has hammertoes. Dr. Kevin Lam, clinical director of Family Foot & Leg Center in Naples, performs a hammertoe tendon release on the second toe — no blades, no sutures. This full tendon release is an in-office procedure that serves as an alternative to major hammertoe surgery, balancing the tendon that is pulling the toe into a bent position. It allows for fast results and a quicker recovery.
Who Is a Candidate?
A tendon release works best for a flexible hammertoe — one that can still be straightened by hand. Rigid, fixed hammertoes that have been present for years may need a more involved correction. An exam determines which stage your toe is in. Because this procedure is done in the office, most patients walk out without any assistive device and resume activity quickly.
Hammertoes can be painful and keep you from wearing the shoes you want. Resolve the pain fast — call us at (239) 430-3668 (FOOT) for scheduling, or book online at NaplesPodiatrist.com.
Serving Southwest Florida since 2005, Family Foot & Leg Center has 9 convenient locations throughout Collier, Lee, Charlotte, and Sarasota Counties — Naples, Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Port Charlotte, and Sarasota. We provide pediatric to geriatric foot and ankle care: ingrown toenails, heel pain, bunions, foot & ankle arthritis, plantar fasciitis, foot & ankle surgery, custom orthotics, and diabetic wound care — with in-office X-rays, diagnostic ultrasound, and minor surgical suites. Home of the Lam Minimally Invasive No-Scar Bunion Surgery. Same-day appointments and easy online scheduling.
