Mallet Toe Treatment Michigan | Bent Toe Specialist

Quick answer: Treatment for mallet toe treatment michigan follows a stepwise approach: 1) conservative care first (rest, ice, supportive footwear, OTC anti-inflammatories), 2) physical therapy and targeted exercises, 3) in-office treatments (injections, custom orthotics) if conservative fails at 4-6 weeks, 4) surgery for refractory cases. Most patients resolve at step 1 or 2. Call (810) 206-1402.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon — Balance Foot & Ankle, Howell & Bloomfield Township, MI. Last updated April 2026.

Mallet Toe Treatment Michigan

Mallet toe is a toe deformity in which the tip of the toe — the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint — bends permanently downward, causing the toe to curl toward the ground. It is distinct from hammertoe (which involves the middle joint) and claw toe (which involves both joints). The curled tip creates painful pressure on the tip of the toe and under the toenail, causing calluses, corns, and toenail problems. Dr. Tom Biernacki DPM at Balance Foot & Ankle treats mallet toe in Michigan at our Howell, Brighton, and Bloomfield Township locations.

Causes

Mallet toe results from an imbalance between the long flexor tendon (flexor digitorum longus) and the extensor mechanism at the DIP joint. The long flexor overpowers the weaker intrinsic muscles, pulling the DIP joint into flexion. Contributing factors include second toe length excess (longer than the big toe), narrow-toe-box footwear forcing the toes into a bent position, rheumatoid arthritis, trauma, and stroke or neuromuscular disease affecting toe muscle control.

Symptoms

• Downward curling of the toe tip
• Painful callus or corn on the tip of the toe (under the toenail)
• Nail deformity from pressure of the curled toe tip on the shoe
• Discomfort in tight footwear
• Ulceration in diabetic or neuropathic patients

Flexible vs. Rigid Mallet Toe

Flexible mallet toe can be passively straightened with the fingers — the joint is not fixed. Rigid mallet toe has a fixed contracture that cannot be manually reduced. Treatment approach differs based on flexibility: conservative care is more effective for flexible deformity; surgery is required for rigid mallet toe correction.

Treatment

Conservative treatment for flexible mallet toe: DIP splinting with a toe sleeve or digital pad, footwear with a deep toe box, corn and callus debridement, and custom orthotics to offload the toe tip. Steroid injection at the DIP joint reduces inflammation in acute cases. These measures relieve symptoms but do not correct the underlying deformity.

Surgical correction for flexible mallet toe involves DIP joint release (tenotomy of the flexor digitorum longus tendon at the DIP joint). This can be performed through a tiny stab incision as an in-office procedure under local anesthesia. For rigid mallet toe, Dr. Biernacki performs a condylectomy (removal of the distal condyle of the middle phalanx) or DIP joint arthrodesis (fusion) to straighten the toe permanently. Patients walk immediately after surgery in a post-operative shoe and return to regular footwear in 4–6 weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schedule your mallet toe evaluation at Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell, Brighton, or Bloomfield Township, Michigan.

In-Office Treatment at Balance Foot & Ankle

If home treatment isn’t providing relief for your hammertoe, our podiatry team at Balance Foot & Ankle can help with same-day evaluations and advanced in-office care.

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