Hammer Toe

TRU Foot and Ankle

Jason Khadavi, DPM

Clinical Medicine and Podiatry Surgery & Podiatric Foot and Ankle Surgeon located in Encino, CA & Beverly Hills, CA

Hammertoe is a foot deformity that causes your little toes to bend down from the middle joint. If you have a hammertoe, it’s hard to wear shoes. This foot deformity can also be highly embarrassing. At TRU Foot and Ankle, Jason Khadavi, DPM, a skilled podiatric surgeon, offers the best in both conservative and interventional surgical care for hammertoe. There are two Los Angeles area locations in Beverly Hills and Encino, California, so reach out by phone or through online scheduling.

Hammer Toe Q & A

What is a hammertoe? 

Hammertoe is an abnormal bending of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, the middle joint in your little toes. This joint contracture causes the toe to push up in the middle, and the end of the toe pushes straight down or even buckles under. 

Hammertoe can occur in any of your little toes but is most common in the 2nd and 5th toes. In severe cases of hammertoe, a crossover toe deformity can occur in which the affected toe drifts over to cover the toe next to it. Usually, this occurs in the second toe, which overlaps the big toe. 

What are the effects of hammertoe?

Hammertoe changes your toe position and can alter the balance of your foot. This may change the way you move to create additional issues. Some of the issues hammertoe can cause include: 

  • Pain on top of your toe
  • Pain at the end of your toe
  • Pain in the ball of your foot
  • Red skin on top of your toe
  • Raw skin (open wound) on top of your toe
  • Corns on top of your toe
  • Calluses on the ball of your foot

In some cases, hammertoe doesn't cause any serious physical symptoms but is still embarrassing and inconvenient. You can't wear shoes that apply pressure or encase the toes when you have a hammertoe, which can limit your fashion options. 

What is the best treatment for hammertoe?

At TRU Foot and Ankle, Dr. Khadavi offers comprehensive hammertoe solutions. In early cases of hammertoe, where you can still straighten your toe, non-surgical measures like padding and taping can help. Custom orthotics can also correct foot function issues to prevent the deformity from worsening. 

But, for lasting correction, hammertoe surgery is usually the right choice. Dr. Khadavi is a well-known podiatric surgeon who specializes in a unique type of hammertoe surgery that restores full function while preserving toe aesthetics. He makes a side incision to prevent scarring on top of your toe. 

If needed, Dr. Khadavi may place an internal implant that helps keep your PIP joint from contracting abnormally again in the future. He can also restore balance in the soft tissues around your joint where necessary. 

Learn more about hammertoe treatment options at TRU Foot and Ankle by calling either office or booking your consultation with Dr. Khadavi online.