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Hammer toe
Medical condition / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A hammer toe, hammertoe or contracted toe is a deformity of the muscles and ligaments of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the second, third, fourth, or fifth toe, bending it into a shape resembling a hammer. In the early stage, a flexible hammertoe is movable at the joints; a rigid hammertoe joint cannot be moved and usually requires surgery.[1]
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Quick Facts Other names, Specialty ...
Hammer toe | |
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Other names | Contracted toe |
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Human feet with hammer toes | |
Specialty | Podology, orthopedic surgery ![]() |
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Mallet toe is a similar condition affecting the distal interphalangeal joint.[2]
Claw toe is another similar condition, with dorsiflexion of the proximal phalanx on the lesser metatarsophalangeal joint, combined with flexion of both the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints. Claw toe can affect the second, third, fourth, or fifth toes.