Bone & Joint Disorders
Hammer Toe / Claw Toe
Hammer and claw toes are deformities where the toes bend abnormally at the joints, creating pressure points on the tips and tops of the toes that can ulcerate in diabetic feet.
warning Symptoms & Signs
- check_circle Toes bent or curled at the joints
- check_circle Corns or calluses on top of or at the tip of the toes
- check_circle Pain in footwear
- check_circle Difficulty straightening the toe
help Causes & Risk Factors
- check_circle Muscle imbalance, often from neuropathy
- check_circle Tight footwear
- check_circle Previous injury
- check_circle Arthritis
emergency When to See a Doctor
- check_circle Painful corns or ulcers on the toes
- check_circle Worsening rigidity
- check_circle Skin breakdown in a diabetic foot
medical_services How Dr. Shah Treats It
Footwear changes, padding and offloading help early on. Fixed or ulcer-prone deformities are corrected surgically — for example by flexor tenotomy — to relieve the pressure point.
Discuss your treatment arrow_forwardquiz Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A simple flexor tenotomy can straighten the toe and offload a tip ulcer, often allowing it to heal quickly.