What is Mallet Toe or Hammer Toe?

Article featured on Mercy Health

What is hammer toe or mallet toe?

Hammer toe is a foot abnormality that occurs because of imbalanced muscles, tendons, or ligaments around the toe. It typically impacts the second, third, or fourth toes. The toe appears like a hammer because it is bent in the middle joint of the toe.

Hammer toe can be healed with relatively simple treatments, but if left untreated may require surgery. Many people with hammer toe develop corns or calluses on the top of the middle joint of the toe or on the tip of the toe.

mallet toe is like hammer toe but impacts the joint closest to the tip of the toe.

Causes of hammer toe or mallet toe

There are many causes of hammer or mallet toe including:

  • Shoes that do not fit properly such as high-heeled shoes that do not have a proper toe box.
  • An impact such as jamming and breaking the toe can cause hammer toe or mallet toe.
  • Imbalanced toe muscles can cause toes to contract.

Risk factors for hammer toe or mallet toe

  • Age — hammer toe or mallet toe affect older people more than younger people but all ages can develop the conditions.
  • Gender — women are more likely to develop hammer or mallet toe.
  • Heredity — hammer toe or mallet toe can be passed down from parents.
  • Second toe length — a person who has a long second toe (longer than the big toe) is more likely to develop hammer or mallet toe.

Symptoms of hammer toe or mallet toe

Symptoms of hammer toe or mallet toe include:

  • Bend in the joint of the toe that is not typical
  • Pain when bending the toe
  • Corns or calluses that form from rubbing in shoes
  • Pain in the ball of the foot under the bent toe
  • Swelling and redness in the toe joint

Diagnosis of hammer toe or mallet toe

A primary care physician or an orthopedic specialist will diagnose hammer toe or mallet toe in a physical exam.

In order to get a better view of what is happening in the bones, joints, and muscles the physician may also order an x-ray.

Treatments for hammer toe or mallet toe

Treatments for hammer toe or mallet toe can be as simple as changing your shoes to surgery for the most severe cases. More advanced treatment options include:

  • Orthotics
  • Splint or brace
  • Rehabilitation or physical therapy

Recovery from hammer toe or mallet toe

Recovery after surgery to correct hammer toe can take as few as 2 weeks to as many as 3 months depending on the severity of the injury.

It is important to follow your physician’s instructions on resting your foot and choice of footwear during the healing process.

Patients who have surgery on the right foot will need to avoid driving for a few weeks to allow the injured toe to heal.


The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.

Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.

If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.

Phone:

503-224-8399

Address
1515 NW 18th Ave, 3rd Floor
Portland, OR 97209

Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm

What is Turf Toe?

Article featured on Mercy Health

What is turf toe?

Turf toe is a sprain in the ligaments around the big toe joint. Turf toe often happens suddenly when the toe becomes hyperextended.

Athletes, such as football players, are the most likely group of people to develop turf toe.

Causes of turf toe

Turf toe can be caused by the following:

  • The toe is hyperextended and forcibly bent backward, when the toe stays flat on the ground instead of lifting off in an athletic move the joint can be injured.
  • A toe stays flat instead of lifting off when a football player or other athlete is tackled.

Risk factors for turf toe

Athletes who play sports involving their feet including football, soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and dance are at a higher risk for developing turf toe.

Also, people who wear shoes that are not supportive in the toe box are also at higher risk for turf toe. These soft-soled shoes do not provide protection in the case of sudden force.

Symptoms of turf toe

Turf toe can be categorized in 3 grades:

  • Grade 1 — mild turf toe that is tender to the touch and slightly swollen.
  • Grade 2 — moderate turf toe where mobility is impacted, swelling is deeper and it is more painful to the touch.
  • Grade 3 — severe turf toe where ligaments have been torn and it is extremely painful, swollen and mobility is more severely impaired.

Diagnosis of turf toe

Turf toe is diagnosed under the care of your primary care doctor, podiatrist or sports medicine physician.

The physician will perform a full medical exam as well as work with you to understand your medical history. The physician may order an x-ray to determine if there has been a bone fracture or an MRI to confirm turf toe (MRIs provide images of structures that are not bones).

Treatments for turf toe

Early medical intervention for turf toe is important to avoid long term repercussions from the injury. Athletes especially need quick treatment in order to get back to play as quickly as possible.

For mild cases of turf toe (grade 1), the first line therapy is rest, ice, elevation, and compression in conjunction with anti-inflammatory medication and immobilization.

For moderate cases of turf toe (grade 2), patients should take a minimum of 3 days away from sporting activity in conjunction with all the treatments from grade 1.

For severe turf toe cases patients will need to develop a customized treatment plan with their physician that may include:

  • Splint or brace
  • Rehabilitation and physical therapy

Recovery from turf toe

Recovering from turf toe can be quick for grade 1 cases or can take many months for a grade 3 case.

It is imperative to follow your physician’s instructions in order to get back to normal activity as quickly as possible.


The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.

Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.

If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.

Phone:
503-224-8399

Address
1515 NW 18th Ave, 3rd Floor
Portland, OR 97209

Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm

What you should know about a broken pinky toe

What you should know about a broken pinky toe

Article Featured on MedicalNewsToday

A broken pinky toe is a fracture of the smallest toe. The term “broken toe” usually describes a traumatic fracture, which can occur due to a direct blow or impact, such as stubbing the toe or dropping something on it. The pinky toe is a commonly broken toe, and the fracture usually occurs at its base.

This article looks at the symptoms of a broken small toe, along with some other problems that can cause pain and swelling in the area. It also examines the treatment and management options for this injury.

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