Hammer Toe Causes and Risk Factors

Contributing Factors

• Foot deformities, including hallux valgus, prominent metatarsal heads, pes cavus, and pes planus, can contribute to hammer toe development, as reported by the American Diabetes Association 1, 2

Clinical Significance in High-Risk Populations

• In patients with diabetes, hammer toes represent a foot deformity that significantly increases risk for ulceration, according to the American Diabetes Association 3, 4, 5, 7
• The American College of Cardiology notes that these structural abnormalities create increased plantar pressure at specific points, leading to friction points and joint immobility that compounds pressure distribution problems 6
• The American Diabetes Association recommends that patients with diabetes and hammer toes be referred to therapeutic footwear specialists, as they are at moderate to high risk for foot ulcer development 6