Toe Deformities
Hammer toe, claw toe, mallet toe, crossover toe — small deformities of the lesser toes that cause big shoe-fit problems. The aim of correction is a toe that fits in a normal shoe without rubbing.
Hammer toe, claw toe, mallet toe, crossover toe — small deformities of the lesser toes that cause big shoe-fit problems. The aim of correction is a toe that fits in a normal shoe without rubbing.
Foot & Ankle · Professor Nima Heidari
Hammer toe, claw toe, mallet toe, crossover toe — small deformities of the lesser toes that cause big shoe-fit problems. The aim of correction is a toe that fits in a normal shoe without rubbing.
Mallet toe, claw toe and hammer toe are all deformities relating to the smaller toes.
In a hammer toe the middle joint of the toe buckles; in a claw toe the toe curls down at both joints; and in a mallet toe it bends at the joint nearest the nail. They arise from an imbalance between the tendons that bend and straighten the toe, and often appear alongside a bunion or in a foot with a high arch.
The trouble they cause is mechanical: the prominent joint rubs in shoes, forming painful corns over the top of the toe or at the tip, and the toe can become stiff and fixed if left. Early on, while the toe is still flexible, roomier footwear, padding and orthotics relieve the pressure and keep symptoms in check.
When a toe has become fixed or the rubbing is persistent, a small operation straightens it — rebalancing the tendons and, where needed, addressing the joint — so it sits comfortably in a shoe again. The right procedure depends on which toes are involved and how stiff they have become.
Toes are small. The operations are small. The relief from a toe that no longer rubs in every shoe is not.
Professor Heidari
Clinical approach
A flexible deformity (one you can passively straighten) may be correctable by soft-tissue means alone. A fixed deformity needs a small bony procedure.
Toe deformities rarely arrive in isolation — bunions, transverse arch collapse and plantar plate failure often sit underneath them. The plan addresses the whole pattern.
Many lesser-toe corrections are day-case operations under regional anaesthetic, with walking in a flat post-op shoe from day one.
Treatments considered
Surgery is by no means necessary for all patients with small toe deformities. Straightening your toes non-surgically using a combination of special medical shoes and pressure-relieving insoles can be enough to solve the problem.
Common questions
A consultation is a structured conversation, not a sales pitch. The diary holds while you decide.
Book a Consultation →Signed off on 30 July 2026
