Lesser toe deformities

• Lesser toe deformities:

  • Changes in the shape of any of the other toes in foot that are not the hallux
  • Most common in 7th to 8th decade of life
  • Women affected more than men
• Causes:

  • Poorly fitted shoes
  • Bunions
  • High arched feet
  • Inflammatory arthropathies e.g. RA
  • Diabetic foot
  • Trauma
  • Underlying neurological conditions
  • Genetic conditions
• 3 main forms:

  • Hammer toe - PIP joint bends down
  • Mallet toe - DIP joint bends down
  • Claw toe - PIP and DIP joints bend down
• Management:

  • Consider underlying cause e.g. diabetes, inflammatory arthritis
  • Conservative - podiatry input, better fitting shoes, shoe inserts and toe padding, splits and straps to realign toe, analgesia
  • Surgical - painful deformity not responding to conservative treatment