Claw-shaped toe

A claw-shaped toe can also be called supine toe deformity. It refers to the hyperextension of the metatarsophalangeal joint and the hyperflexion of the proximal interphalangeal joint. It looks like an inverted “V” shape from the side. In general, the second toe occurs more often than the other toes, and more women than men occur, which may be related to the habit of wearing shoes and the incidence of hallux valgus. The toes of the claw-shaped toe are claw-shaped. The deformation of this toe will affect the three joints of the toes. Due to the imbalance of muscle and nerve tension, the metacarpophalangeal joints are excessively straightened, and the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints are bent and deformed.

1. Symptoms

When the end of the toe is bent in the shoe for a long time, causing the joint at the end of the toe to bend, a claw-shaped toe is formed. Excessive friction between the claw-shaped toes and the top of the shoe can cause pain and eventually form corns. When standing, the toes are claw-shaped and all toes are affected.

2. Reason

Claw-shaped toes are caused by the unbalanced growth of muscles and bones. For example: In daily activities, people’s toes are prone to claw-shaped toes if they are not properly stressed. Arthritis, diabetes, neuropathy, etc., can also cause deformities in many parts of the forefoot, including claw-shaped toes. Wearing shoes that are too pinched for a long time will make the claw-shaped toe more serious.

It often occurs in people with high arched feet, hollow feet, or neuromuscular diseases (such as polio, cerebral palsy, hypertonicity, strokes in children), or because they often wear tight shoes in childhood.

Tendon degeneration is also one of the main culprits that cause claw toes because modern people are accustomed to wearing shoes, and there is no opportunity to move our toes, especially the little toes other than the big toe, which is left idle for a long time by us, and the long tendons naturally degenerate over time.  It is easy to produce claw-like toes.

3. Treatment Methods

Depending on the type and severity of claw-shaped toe deformities, different treatment methods are adopted. During the development of claw-shaped toes, early recognition of the deformity and early conservative treatment is very important. When symptoms of pain or discomfort first appear, you should ask a podiatrist for diagnosis and treatment in time. If you are treated in time, surgical treatment can be avoided. Once it becomes a hard hammertoe, surgery may be required.

The podiatrist will make a personalized treatment for you through physical examination and X-ray changes.

•  Drug treatment:
  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs and local injection of adrenal corticosteroids can relieve pain symptoms.
• Orthopedics
  By wearing special orthotics and even special orthopedic shoes. It can relieve pain symptoms and prevent the development of hammertoe deformity.
• Surgical treatment
  For the podiatrist, surgical methods are used to eliminate bony processes and improve the balance of tendons and ligaments around the joints to achieve the purpose of thorough treatment. At the same time, concurrent corns can be removed.

Especially serious hammertoes can only be treated with complicated surgery. It is normal for the patient to feel some discomfort such as swelling and pain within a few weeks after the operation, and appropriate medication can be used to relieve the above symptoms.

4. Prevention

Avoid wearing tight or too-small shoes. For patients with hallux valgus, pay special attention to avoid wearing high-heeled shoes and shoes with too narrow a front to prevent other toe deformities. For patients with congenital toe deformity, appropriate protective gear can be used while adjusting the shoes to avoid further aggravation of the deformity.

In the foot and ankle department, the ankle joint, subtalar joint, calcaneus… and other hindfoot organs, once damaged, will cause more pain than the forefoot organs, and most of them will immediately affect mobility, so the hindfoot Disorders are generally more valued than the forefoot. As for the forefoot, the focus of everyone’s eyes is mostly on the big toe. Relatively speaking, the caring eyes that can be assigned to other toes are minimal. However, with the rise in quality of life and functional awareness, the symptoms caused by “little toe disorders” have gradually received attention. The theme of the Taiwan Foot and Ankle Medical Association in recent years has also changed from the previous hindfoot and big toe to ” “Little toe disorders” include symptoms such as claw-like toes and plantar pain. In the case of claw-shaped toes, although they are often placed at the end of treatment and are not valued by people, in fact, they have very deep knowledge. If the doctor and the patient do not have a deep understanding of the complex causes behind it, it is very It is difficult to get a good treatment effect.