What is a claw toe?
It is the condition of dorsiflexion of toes 2 through 5. It consists of an excessive flexion of both the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints of toes.

What is a hammer toe?
It is a deformity of a toe in which the proximal interphalangeal joint is flexed and the distal phalanx is extended, causing it to be permanently bent.

Causes?
Causes are diverse. The theory of inheritance is the most supported one. It is also found that muscle problems caused an unbalance between tensor and extensor musculature. It is related to other foot diseases such as flat feet (pes planus) or high-arched feet (pes cavus). Wearing poorly fitting shoes like excessively high heels or shoes that are too short or narrow for the foot can force the toe into a bent position and result in these deformities.

Is it painful this patologia?
This disease produces pain due to little space in footwear and therefore the graze with shoes. In first or flexible phases the patient suffers from a minor ache, but if it turns to a structural lesion, the pain is persistent.

What does a surgical treatment consist of?
It is a technique that can be done under local anesthesia and the patient would be discharged the same day of intervention.