Hammertoe is a deformity of the smaller toes not the Big toe. In this condition, the toe is bent at the middle joint, resembling a hammer. Left untreated, hammertoes can become inflexible and require surgery. People with hammertoe may have corns or calluses on the top of the middle joint of the toe or on the tip of the toe. They may also feel pain in their toes or feet and have difficulty finding comfortable shoes.
Causes of hammertoe include improperly fitting shoes and muscle and tendon imbalance.
Conservative Treatment for the condition typically involves shoes with soft, roomy toe boxes and commercially available straps, cushions or non-medicated corn pads may also relieve symptoms.

Surgical Treatment- Is indicated when there is a deformity of the toe that is not responding to conservative treatment. This usually involves removing some of the bone from the toe to allow it to straighten this is referred as an Arthroplasty.

Fusion or Arthrodesis procedure can also be performed where bone is removed from each side of the affected joint and then put together with a absorbable pin or a metal implant that is all underneath the skin with nothing sticking out of the toe. Implant Arthroplasty can also be used as well which is half way between a fusion and an arthroplasty. These procedures allow for immediate weight bearing and you will need to wear a surgical shoe for about 4 weeks.