Treatment

Treatment for claw toes and hammertoes depends on the severity of the deformity. When the toes first start to buckle, they can be straightened easily. If flat feet cause the condition, an arch support may be supplied to provide support and help the muscles work together. Correctly fitting footwear to avoid rubbing is also advisable. In these cases, the prognosis is good.

If the soft tissue structures that attach to claw toes and hammertoes begin to tighten, adhesions gradually form from the tendons to the joint capsules, causing a rigid deformity. Surgery may be necessary in these cases.

Arthroplasty is a minor surgical procedure that may be used to treat claw or hammertoes. In this procedure, an incision is made along the toe and the head of the proximal phalanx is trimmed, allowing the toe to straighten. If the affected toe does not straighten sufficiently after arthroplasty, a number of progressive procedures may be used to achieve the desired result. If these procedures are not successful, it is likely that the deformity has been present for so long that the joint can no longer function properly. In this case, a procedure called arthrodesis may restore normal mobility.

Arthrodesis involves fusing two bones together, typically the proximal and middle phalanges. The surgeon removes the cartilage from the base of the middle phalanx, the bones are fixed together with a removable pin, and they eventually fuse together.

Complications include infection, numbness in the toe, and failure of the procedure that requires additional surgery. However this is rare.