Malled Finger Deformity

The hammer toe deformity, which is usually seen in the big toe or the 2nd or 3rd finger of the hand, is especially common among people who play sports and young people. Hammer toe, which is a painful condition, can be controlled with simple measures, and in some cases, it may require surgical intervention. Therefore, the causes of hammer toe and the treatment method of hammer toe should be determined well.

What is Hammer Toe?

Hammer finger, baseball finger or mallet finger occur on the fingers or toes for various reasons. is the deformity. The hammertoe deformity usually occurs in the second, third, or fourth toe of the hand or foot. The finger that bends from the middle joint as a result of damage to the tendons on the back of the finger as a result of a blow to the fingertip or chronically disrupted the movement of the joint is called this name because it takes the appearance of a hammer.
The finger can maintain its flexibility in the early stage. In this period, the deformity can be corrected with simple measures and applications. However, in cases where no precautions are taken or treated, the deformity becomes permanent and more serious methods such as surgical intervention may be required for its treatment.
Untreated hammertoe causes disruption in hand and foot functions over time. Since the fingertips are severely damaged, the tip of the finger can be bent and curled, sometimes causing severe pain. It occurs as a result of a blow to the tendon that allows the correction of the finger on the back of the finger. It occurs as a result of damage and inflammation of the tendons on the dorsum of the toe and the finger joint due to the inward bending of the toe for a long time.
Hammer toe deformity is often seen in the longest finger of the foot. In general, it may occur due to wearing narrow shoes that are not suitable for the feet for a long time. Although the patient begins to develop deformity, the toe is also The deformity may become permanent if you continue to wear shoes that cause the knee to remain bent. In this case, the toe may remain bent or deform towards the other toes.
In this case, the person may have difficulty in finding suitable shoes for their feet.
Ultimately, in both cases, there is difficulty in moving the affected finger towards the back of the finger (extension movement cannot be performed) and sometimes severe pain occurs. Hammer toe deformity may also present itself as pain along with calluses and hardening on the back of the toe as a result of the rubbing of the bent toe into the shoe due to wearing tight shoes. The difference between them is the group of tendons and joints affected.
If flexion is observed in the extreme joint of the finger, mallet finger; If bending is seen in the middle joint, hammer toe; If bending is observed at the junction of the finger and foot, it is expressed as claw toe.
We can summarize the health problems that cause these deformities as follows; deformity may develop by pressing the fingers. >Arthritis: Underlying joint inflammatory diseases contribute to the development of these deformities.

Other foot deformities: Various foot deformities such as high arch (pes cavus), introversion (pes valgus) or curvature of the thumb (hallux valgus) ; It can facilitate the development of hammer toe.

Advanced age: Advanced age is a risk factor in terms of compression, injury and inability to heal the joints and tendons.

Muscle and tendon problems: Muscle and tendon problems generally observed in athletes

This situation causes restricted and abnormal movement of the foot during walking or running activities; causes pressure on the toes of the forefoot. Spinal cord or peripheral nerve damage, in these cases, the risk of foot injury and deformity increases.

What are the Symptoms of Hammer Toe?

If hammer finger occurs on the hand, the affected finger of the person is bent at the middle joint and stays that way. When the person is asked to straighten the finger, the person cannot do it voluntarily. However, the patient can bring the finger to the straight position by using the other hand or by the intervention of the examining doctor.
The person can bend the finger and make movements other than straightening the finger towards the back. Apart from these, pain may be felt in the affected finger. This deformity of the finger may sometimes be accompanied by small fractures of the bone associated with the affected tendon. Severe pain may occur in the presence of a fracture.
In the presence of hammer toe deformity, the affected finger is constantly bent inward. Since the toe is in constant contact with the shoe wall and exposed to friction, hardening and calluses may occur at the contact points.
These spots can also be painful. Deformities in the form of overlapping of the other fingers can be seen in the affected fingers. Due to these deformities, the person may find it difficult to find suitable shoes for their feet. Using heels or pointed-toed shoes when choosing shoes can also increase complaints.

What to Do in Hammer Toe Treatment?

In hammer toe treatment; Depending on the deformation that occurs in the shape of the finger, different methods are applied. Finger splints can be recommended for the fingers that are in the early stage and have not undergone severe deformity, provided that the patient wears them for 2 months if there is no fracture in the finger bones with tendon damage. Again, in the early period, ice application and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will be beneficial for pain
Also, in this process, in case of hammer toe deformity, it is recommended that the patient prefer soft, flexible and rounded front shoes. If the patient's hammer toe deformity is advanced, special shoes with a soft structure are recommended for the use of shoes. In hammer toe surgery, both the broken bone and the damaged tendon are repaired. The patient is placed with a wire that will keep the two ends of the finger straight for about two months. It is ensured that the finger does not bend the finger during this time.
However, if the deformity is not treated in the early period, the injured tendon shortens and displaces downwards and enters a false healing path called swan neck deformity, which can be more difficult and troublesome to treat. In this respect, the subject should be carefully examined by the patient and examined by a specialist physician, and the treatment process should be followed under the supervision of a physician.

Which Exercises Can Be Done in the Treatment of Hammer Toe?

Importance in the treatment of hammer toe. One of the elements that should be given is to do exercises that aim to strengthen the muscles in the toes, thus correcting the posture of the finger. You can do small exercises such as

• Hold your toes from the roots of your toes and stretch them downwards for 20-30 seconds (plantar flexion). At the same time, you are stretching your extensor tendons on the foot.
• At the same time, push up the arch of the sole of your foot (metatarsal cavity) with the thumb of your other hand to ensure that the stretching is complete.
• During this movement, cramping may occur in the sole of the foot. This is an indication that the muscles in the cavity have started to get stronger.
• After stretching the toes downwards as much as possible, fix the hammer toe deformity by holding the tip of the finger.
• When you do the movement regularly, the fingertips are better stretched downwards (flexion). ) and you will see that you can correct the hammertoe.

Likewise, bone-induced hammertoe deformities in the hand heal rapidly with the use of splints. Hand hammertoe deformities caused by tendons are painless, but healing processes are more painful. It is helpful to do regular stretching exercises in this type of deformity.

Gently push your fingertip upwards with your index finger until you feel the stretching of the deformed joint.

Repeat this movement 2-4 times each time.

Stretching exercises You can also do it by gently pressing your fingertip on the thumb of the same hand.

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