HAMMERTOE TREATMENT
Hammertoe Treatment & Surgery in Billings, MT
Bent, painful toes that rub against your shoes? We offer both conservative correction and minimally invasive surgical options.
What Are Hammertoes?
A hammertoe is a deformity where the toe bends downward at the middle joint, creating a shape that resembles a hammer. The second toe is most commonly affected, but hammertoes can develop in any of the smaller toes. The condition results from an imbalance between the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that normally hold the toe straight.
There are two types of hammertoes, and the distinction matters for treatment:
- Flexible hammertoes — The toe can still be straightened manually. This is the earlier stage and responds better to conservative treatment.
- Rigid hammertoes — The joint is locked in the bent position and cannot be straightened by hand. Surgery is usually required to correct a rigid hammertoe.
Left untreated, flexible hammertoes will progress to rigid deformities. The bent toe rubs against shoes, creating painful corns and calluses. Eventually, the toe may dislocate or cross over adjacent toes, making it difficult to walk comfortably in any shoe.
Hammertoe Symptoms
Visible Toe Bending
An obvious downward bend at the middle joint of the toe. The toe may also curl at the tip joint (claw toe) or bend only at the joint closest to the foot (mallet toe).
Corns & Calluses
Painful thickened skin on top of the bent joint or at the tip of the toe where it presses against the shoe or the ground. These are the body's response to chronic friction.
Pain When Walking
Discomfort in the affected toe during walking, especially in closed shoes. Pain at the ball of the foot beneath the bent toe is also common as weight distribution changes.
Difficulty with Shoes
The raised toe joint creates a bump that rubs against the top of the shoe. Finding comfortable footwear becomes increasingly difficult as the deformity progresses.
Tired of painful, bent toes?
Schedule a hammertoe evaluation →Hammertoe Treatment Options
Conservative Care for Flexible Hammertoes
- Wider, deeper shoes — Shoes with a deep toe box reduce friction on the bent joint and provide room for the toes to lie more naturally
- Toe exercises — Stretching and strengthening exercises such as towel curls and marble pickups can help maintain flexibility in the toe joints
- Splints and straps — Devices that gently straighten the toe and hold it in a corrected position, most effective when the toe is still flexible
- Protective padding — Gel pads and moleskin cushion the prominent joint and reduce corn formation
- Custom orthotics — Address underlying biomechanical causes such as flat feet that contribute to the muscle imbalance
Minimally Invasive Hammertoe Surgery
When conservative measures are not enough or the hammertoe has become rigid, surgical correction provides a permanent solution. Our surgeons use minimally invasive techniques that involve smaller incisions, less tissue disruption, and faster recovery:
- Arthroplasty — Removal of a small section of bone at the contracted joint to allow the toe to straighten
- Tendon release or transfer — Releasing the tight tendon or rerouting it to rebalance the forces on the toe
- Internal fixation — A small pin or implant stabilizes the toe in its corrected position during healing
- Combined correction — For severe deformities, we may address multiple joints and soft tissue structures in a single procedure
Surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure. You walk in a surgical shoe immediately after surgery and go home the same day.
Why Choose Rimrock Podiatry for Hammertoe Treatment?
Minimally Invasive Approach
Our surgeons favor techniques that minimize incision size, tissue disruption, and recovery time while achieving excellent cosmetic and functional results.
Combined Corrections
Hammertoes often occur alongside bunions, corns, and metatarsalgia. We address multiple conditions in a single surgical session when appropriate, reducing total recovery time.
Experienced Surgeons
Our board-certified podiatric surgeons perform hammertoe corrections routinely and tailor the technique to each patient's specific deformity and foot structure.
Full Spectrum of Care
From initial conservative management through surgery and rehabilitation, you receive coordinated care from the same team throughout your treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hammertoes
What causes hammertoes?
Hammertoes develop from a muscle and tendon imbalance around the toe joint. Contributing factors include genetics, wearing tight or narrow shoes (especially high heels), bunions that push the big toe into the second toe, flat feet or high arches, arthritis, and toe injuries. Over time, the tendons and ligaments tighten and the joint becomes fixed in the bent position.
Can hammertoes be fixed without surgery?
Flexible hammertoes — those that can still be manually straightened — often respond well to conservative treatment including toe exercises, splints, wider shoes, and padding. However, once a hammertoe becomes rigid and cannot be straightened by hand, surgery is typically the only way to correct the deformity. Early treatment gives you the best chance of avoiding surgery.
What does hammertoe surgery involve?
Hammertoe surgery straightens the toe by releasing tight tendons, removing a small piece of bone at the contracted joint, and stabilizing the correction with a small internal pin or implant. The procedure is performed as outpatient surgery under local anesthesia with sedation. Most patients go home the same day and are walking in a surgical shoe immediately.
How long is recovery from hammertoe surgery?
Most patients wear a surgical shoe for 3 to 4 weeks after surgery, then transition to a supportive athletic shoe. Swelling gradually resolves over 2 to 3 months. Most people return to work within 1 to 2 weeks for desk jobs or 3 to 4 weeks for jobs requiring significant standing or walking. Full recovery takes approximately 3 months.
Will my hammertoe get worse if I don't treat it?
Yes. Hammertoes are progressive. A flexible hammertoe that can still be straightened will eventually become rigid and fixed in the bent position. As the deformity worsens, painful corns and calluses develop on top of the toe from shoe friction, and the toe may begin to cross over or under adjacent toes. Early intervention provides more treatment options and better outcomes.
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Our board-certified podiatric surgeons will evaluate your condition, explain your options, and create a treatment plan tailored to your needs.