Toe Injuries

Lesser toe deformities are caused by an imbalance between intrinsic and extrinsic muscles. Typical deformities include mallet toe, hammer toe, claw toe, and crossover toe. Causes include improper footwear, trauma, genetics, inflammatory arthritis, and neuromuscular and metabolic diseases. The deformity is severe when associated with instability of the metatarsophalangeal joint. The second toe is the most frequently affected. Non-surgical management focuses on relieving pressure and correcting deformity with bracing. Surgical treatment is reserved for patients in whom non-surgical treatment fails.