Fourteen of the 26 bones in your feet are in your toes. The toes, particularly your big toe, help you move and keep your balance. Playing sports, running, and receiving a blow to the foot can damage your toes. Wearing shoes that are too loose or too tight can also cause toe problems. Certain diseases, such as severe arthritis, can cause toe problems and pain. Gout often causes pain in the big toe.
Common toe problems include
- Corns and bunions
- Ingrown toenails
- Toe joint sprains and dislocations
- Fractured toe bones
Treatments for toe injuries and disorders vary. They might include shoe inserts or special shoes, padding, taping, medicines, rest, and in severe cases, surgery.
- Adult Foot(American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) - http://www.aofas.org/scripts/4disapi.dll/4DCGI/cms/review.html?Action=CMS_Document&DocID=62
- Foot Problems(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom/544.printerview.html
- Blisters: First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/first-aid-blisters/WL00008/METHOD=print
- Broken Toe: How Is It Treated?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/broken-toe/AN01719/METHOD=print
- Bunion Surgery(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00140
- Orthotic Devices(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00172&return_link=0
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Bunions(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) - http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/bunions.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.footphysicians.com/espanol/buniones.htm
- Claw Toe(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00156&return_link=0
- Corns(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00153&return_link=0
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Crossover Toe(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) - http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/crossover.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.footphysicians.com/espanol/dedo-cruzado.htm
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Hallux Rigidus(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) - http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/hallux-rigidus.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.footphysicians.com/espanol/hallux-rigidus.htm
- Hammertoe and Mallet Toe(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hammertoe-and-mallet-toe/DS00480/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
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Hammertoes(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) - http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/hammertoes.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.footphysicians.com/espanol/dedo-en-martillo.htm
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Sesamoid Injuries in the Foot and Turf Toe(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) - http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/Sesamoid_Injuries.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.footphysicians.com/espanol/lesiones-en-un-hueso-sesamoideo-del-pie.htm
- Sesamoiditis(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00164&return_link=0
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Tailor's Bunion(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) - http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/tailors-bunion.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.footphysicians.com/espanol/juanetes-de-sastre.htm
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Toe and Metatarsal Fractures(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) - http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/metatarsal-fractures.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.footphysicians.com/espanol/facturas-de-los-dedos.htm
- Footwear Guide(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00145&return_link=0
- Callus(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/callus.htm
- Corn(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/corn.htm
- Numbness of the Feet or Toes(DSHI Systems) - http://www.freemd.com/numbness-of-the-feet-or-toes/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
- Toe Injury(DSHI Systems) - http://www.freemd.com/toe-injury/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
- Toe Pain(DSHI Systems) - http://www.freemd.com/toe-pain/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hallux Valgus
(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Hallux+Valgus%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Cold fingers, cold toes? Could be Raynaud's. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19402237&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: The prevalence of hallux valgus and its association with foot... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19336810&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Persistent sciatic artery. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19303995&tool=MedlinePlus
- Toe Injuries and Disorders -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(toes[majr]+OR+toe+joint[majr]+OR+hammer+toe+syndrome[majr]+OR+hallux+valgus[majr]+OR+hallux+varus[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(finger+injuries[mh]+OR+letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary of Orthopaedic Words(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/glossary.cfm
- Find a Physician (Podiatrist)(American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) - http://www.footphysicians.com/findphysician/default.htm?disclaimer=1
- Find an Orthopaedist(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://www6.aaos.org/about/public/members.cfm
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - http://www.aaos.org/
- American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine - http://www.aapsm.org/
- American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons - http://www.acfas.org/
- American Podiatric Medical Association - http://www.apma.org/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
- If the Shoe Fits, Wear It(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00146&return_link=0
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Blisters, Calluses, and Corns(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/aches/blisters.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/enfermadades/blisters_esp.html
- Foot Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/foothealth.html
- Foot Injuries and Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/footinjuriesanddisorders.html
- Bones, Joints and Muscles - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonesjointsandmuscles.html
- Injuries and Wounds - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/injuriesandwounds.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Toe Injuries and Disorders is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/