Hammer toe is a condition where a toe bends downward like a claw. You can be born with hammer toe or develop it from wearing short, narrow shoes. Symptoms of hammer toe include foot pain, calluses on the sole of the foot, or corns on the top of the toe. Treatment of mild cases and cases in children can include foot manipulation and splinting of the toe. More severe cases may need surgery to straighten the toe joint.
Last reviewed 8/11/2012 by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc. C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.
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