Bunions and Hammertoes: The Hidden Connection Between These Two Foot Deformities
Bunions and claw toes are two distinct foot conditions, but they often occur simultaneously. In fact, they often occur together so frequently that some doctors consider them to be a single condition. What causes bunions and hammertoes to occur together? There is a connection between how and why each deformity develops. If your foot has a bunion, a hammertoe is likely to follow. Here’s why.
What is a bunion?
A bunion, known as hallux valgus, is a lump that develops at the base of the big toe on the side of the foot. Caused by misalignment of the metatarsophalangeal joint, a bunion can make it difficult to find proper footwear, cause pain when rubbing against the shoe, or cause discomfort and pain when walking. When the big toe joint shifts, it causes the tip of the toe to deviate toward the smaller toes.The causes of bunions can vary, from footwear to genetics and even pregnancy. Bunions generally worsen over time, especially if you wear ill-fitting shoes. If you don’t take steps to limit the progression of a bunion, it can negatively affect your mobility and cause pain.
What is a hammertoe?
Hammertoes do not affect your big toe; instead, they occur in the second, third, fourth or fifth toes. They are characterized by an abnormal curvature in the toe, usually at the middle joint, which causes the tip of the toe to deform downward (flex). This deformity can cause your feet to rub against your shoes, causing corns and injuries. Hammertoe also causes the toe to become stiff, limiting your ability to move and making everyday activities more difficult or painful. Hammertoes can have several causes. Like bunions, improper footwear can contribute to hammertoes. Health problems, such as diabetes or a foot injury, may also play a role. But often, the exact cause cannot be determined.
What is a mallet finger?
A mallet finger is similar to a hammertoe. However, the curve occurs at the joint just below the nail of the affected toe, instead of pressing the pad of the toe down, mallet toe causes a curled appearance. This deformity predominantly affects the second toe, but can also occur in the third and fourth toes. Improper footwear is often the culprit, but injury and illness can also cause this condition.
What are claw toes?
Another deformity similar to hammertoe is claw toe. The toe joint curves the entire toe so that it curls back toward your foot, almost like a claw. Claw toes often occur in all of the smaller toes and involve all of the affected toe joints. Like the above pathologies, claw toes can be caused by the choice of footwear, although they can also be hereditary.
Why can you have bunions and hammertoes at the same time?
You are more likely to develop a hammertoe when the second toe extends beyond the first toe (big toe). When you wear shoes, the pressure from the end of the shoe box rests on the longer toe. Prolonged wear and tear can cause it to curve, resulting in a hammertoe. This is because the toe is repeatedly forced into this bent position, the tendons and muscles can become stiffer and shorter over time. Even when you remove a tight shoe, the toe remains bent. The relationship between bunions and hammertoes is clear: bunions, by deflecting the big toe and compressing the adjacent toes, force them into abnormal positions. This not only leads to the formation of hammertoes, but can also cause the big toe to become shorter than the second toe. Therefore, even if you are not born with a hammertoe-prone foot structure, the development of a bunion can change the anatomy of the foot, thus increasing the risk of suffering from this condition.
Do hammertoes cause bunions?
Having a hammertoe does not necessarily imply a risk of bunion, since it affects a different joint and does not put pressure on the big toe. However, factors such as joint problems, diabetes, genetics and improper footwear can increase the risk of both deformities. In addition, bunions and hammertoes often have a common cause: improper footwear. Therefore, it is possible to develop both conditions because of the pressure that narrow shoes put on the toes.
Treatment options for bunions and hammertoes
Because bunions and hammertoes have common causes, their preventive measures are similar. Nonsurgical treatments for both focus on mitigating pain and stopping the progression or aggravation of these conditions. Non-surgical treatments for bunions and hammertoes include:
Proper Footwear: It is essential to choose shoes with enough room in the toe box and in the front to avoid pressure and unnatural displacement of the toes. It is recommended to avoid narrow shoes and high heels, as they can cause calluses, blisters and aggravate bunions by pushing the big toe into the other toes.
Insole Support: Insoles, bunion splints and commercial pads help support and relieve foot pain. At Clinica San Roman, we offer custom orthotics and orthopedic insoles to cushion and position the toes in a more natural way.
Finger Stretches: Performing stretches and gentle finger exercises at home can relax tight ligaments and relieve muscle contracture. Regular activity can balance the musculature and prevent curved and uncomfortable fingers.
Surgery for Advanced Cases: For advanced bunions and hammertoes, bunion surgery may be necessary. Our surgeons at Clínica San Román are experts in various surgical procedures for bunions and toe deformities. In severe cases where a hammertoe affects daily life, we also perform specific surgeries for this condition.
Why is Clínica San Román the best place for the treatment of bunions and toe deformities in Europe?
Clínica San Román is led by a team of highly qualified physicians and podiatric doctors. This center was the first clinic to initiate minimally invasive foot surgery in Europe, established in 1979. Our goal is to offer safe and effective long-term treatments. If you suffer from hammertoes, bunions or a bunionette, we always start with the least invasive treatment option before resorting to state-of-the-art bunionectomy techniques. To schedule a consultation, call (+34) 965921156 or make an appointment now.
Response from the owner:¡Muchísimas gracias por esa recomendación del 200%, Aida! 👏 Nos hace una ilusión enorme leer palabras tan bonitas. Todo el equipo de Clínica San Román se esfuerza cada día para ofrecer la mejor atención posible, y saber que tu experiencia ha sido maravillosa es nuestra mejor recompensa. ¡Un fuerte abrazo!
Estoy muy satisfecha con la operación realizada por el Dr Israel San Román. todo ha ido estupendamente. Me operé de un juanete y 6 dedos en garra, a los 15 días ya caminaba y en un mes estaba totalmente recuperada. Son muy amables y te hacen sentir muy atendida. Muchas gracias a todos
Response from the owner:¡Muchísimas gracias por tus palabras, Tina! Nos hace muy felices saber que tu recuperación de la operación de juanete y dedos en garra ha sido tan rápida y satisfactoria.
Precisamente, ese es el objetivo de nuestra técnica de mínima incisión: corregir deformidades complejas permitiendo que el paciente camine cuanto antes y vuelva a su vida normal en tiempo récord. Le transmitiremos tu agradecimiento al Dr. Israel San Román y a todo el equipo. Ha sido un placer cuidarte. ¡Un fuerte abrazo!
Very happy and grateful for the results of this operation. Pain free walking was a dream, and Dr San Roman made it happen with great care, expertise and kindness. The whole staff is knowledgeable and very helpful. Thank you so much. Highly recommended.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for trusting us with your foot surgery.
Reading that "pain-free walking" has turned from a dream into reality is the best reward for us. We are delighted to hear that you felt supported by Dr. San Román’s expertise and the kindness of our entire staff throughout the process.
We will make sure to share your kind words with the team. Thank you for recommending Clínica San Román to others seeking a definitive solution.
Warm regards from Alicante.
Tenía problemas serios en ambos pies de Halux Valgux, dedos en garra y otras deformaciones con dificultad para andar y con mucho dolor. Después de mucho buscar por internet, di con la Clínica San Román en Alicante. Tengo que dar las gracias al Dr. Israel San Román por sus enormes conocimientos, atención y esmero para solucionar definitivamente mi problema con microcirugía y a todo su personal de clínica, especialmente a María y Carla y los recomiendo para casos similares. ,
Response from the owner:Estimado Eliezer,
Muchísimas gracias por tu confianza y por compartir tu experiencia detallada con nosotros.
Nos hace muy felices saber que, tras tu búsqueda, encontraste en Clínica San Román la solución definitiva para recuperar tu calidad de vida. Es un orgullo para todo el equipo leer que la cirugía de mínima incisión (microcirugía) ha sido un éxito para corregir tanto el Hallux Valgus (juanetes) como los dedos en garra de ambos pies, eliminando el dolor y facilitando que vuelvas a caminar con normalidad.
Transmitiremos tus agradecimientos personalmente al Dr. Israel San Román, así como a María y Carla; les hará mucha ilusión saber que su atención y esmero han marcado la diferencia en tu proceso.
Gracias de corazón por recomendarnos a otros pacientes que puedan estar pasando por una situación similar. Aquí nos tienes a tu disposición.
Un afectuoso saludo de todo el equipo.
Después de muchos meses con dolor en mi pie izquierdo , gracias a la atención excepcional del Dr Israel san Roman he vuelto a poder andar sin molestia . Recomendable 100% un equipo excelente
Response from the owner:¡Muchísimas gracias por tu reseña, Vane! 💙
Después de tantos meses con dolor en tu pie izquierdo, nos alegra enormemente saber que ahora puedes volver a andar sin molestias. Ese es precisamente nuestro objetivo: ayudarte a recuperar tu calidad de vida lo antes posible 👣
El Dr. Israel San Román y todo el equipo te agradecen de corazón tu confianza y tu recomendación al 100%. Comentarios como el tuyo nos motivan a seguir trabajando con la máxima dedicación cada día.
Aquí nos tienes para lo que puedas necesitar en el futuro 😊✨
I had a minor foot surgery (hammer toe correction) at Clínica San Román in September 2025, and it was an excellent experience.
Dr. Israel San Román Sirvent, who performed my surgery, is not only highly skilled but also deeply committed to doing his work with precision and care. You can truly feel that he wants to achieve the best possible result for each patient.
I also had the pleasure of meeting his father, Dr. José Manuel San Román Pérez, who seemed sincerely proud to see his long experience being passed on to his son — a beautiful legacy of medical excellence.
The entire team — assistants, nurses, and staff — were kind, attentive, and very professional. The procedure was almost painless, and recovery went smoothly from the very first days. In fact, the doctor prescribed me paracetamol, but I barely needed to take it because I experienced no real pain.
It was a genuinely positive and reassuring experience from start to finish. I’m deeply grateful to Dr. Israel, Dr. José Manuel, and the whole team for their care, professionalism, and human warmth.
Response from the owner:Thank you very much for your detailed and generous review, Ibrahim.
It was a pleasure to accompany you throughout your hammer toe correction surgery and recovery process here at Clínica San Román. Knowing that everything went smoothly, that the procedure was practically painless, and that you barely needed any paracetamol is exactly the type of outcome we work for every day.
Dr. Israel San Román and the whole team truly appreciate your words about the precision, care and attention you felt during each step. We are also very grateful for your mention of Dr. José Manuel and the family legacy behind the clinic — we are proud to continue his path in minimally invasive foot surgery with the same dedication to medical excellence and humane care.
Thank you again for your trust and for recommending us. We remain at your disposal for any follow-up or future care you may need.
Warm regards from Dr. Israel, Dr. José Manuel and the entire Clínica San Román team.
Me operé de juanetes en Clínica San Román y absolutamente se lo recomiendo a todo el mundo. No sabemos lo importante que es la salud podológica hasta que no tenemos bien los pies. Amén de la estética, que ahora me sientan perfectos todos los estilettos, mocasines o sandalias de cualquier tipo. Antes lo tenía que haber hecho! Con la técnica que utilizan apenas hay 24-48 de “molestias”, ni siquiera dolor y no queda ningún tipo de marca o cicatriz. SE LO RECOMIENDO A TODO EL MUNDO.
Tanto el trato del doctor como de todo su equipo es fabuloso desde el primer hasta el último momento.
Response from the owner:Muchas gracias por la reseña, Amparo 🩵
Amparo, ha sido un verdadero placer acompañarte en tu cirugía de juanetes y en todo el proceso de recuperación. Saber que ahora puedes usar tus estilettos, mocasines y sandalias sin dolor y con total comodidad nos llena de alegría 😊
En Clínica San Román trabajamos cada día para que la cirugía mínimamente invasiva del pie permita una recuperación rápida, con pocas molestias y sin cicatrices visibles, tal y como comentas. Tu experiencia es el mejor ejemplo de que cuidar la salud de los pies mejora tanto la calidad de vida como la parte estética 👣
Gracias por confiar en el Dr. San Román y en todo el equipo, y por recomendar nuestra clínica “a todo el mundo”. Seguiremos aquí para lo que puedas necesitar en el futuro. 🙌✨
Dr Israel is the best foot doctor i ever seen. He's passionate about his work and has a lot of energy. I am so happy with his results. No other foot doctor what i had before can do this. He is amazing he did great work! His team Carla ,Maria and the rest are fantastic. His father is a wonderful man. I think many foot doctors in the Netherlands are yealous about him. I 've had 20 bad foot sugeries in the Netherlands. They did a terrible job. I'm so glad to find this foot clinic San Roman. The location is easily accesible. It's in the best spot in Alicante! Thanks so much!!!
Response from the owner:Hi Maryam,
Thank you so much for your incredibly kind and heartfelt review. After everything you have been through with your feet and so many previous surgeries, it means a great deal to us that you finally feel relieved and happy with the results.
Dr. Israel is truly passionate about his work, and the whole team (Carla, Maria and the rest) is delighted to know that you felt so well cared for. We will also gladly pass on your lovely words to Dr. San Román Sr.
We are very happy that you chose to travel to Alicante and place your trust in Clínica San Román. Knowing that you can now walk more comfortably is the best reward for our work. We are also glad that you found our location easy to access and convenient.
If you ever need anything in the future, we will be more than happy to welcome you back.
Warm regards,
Clínica San Román 💙
Tengo pies muy sensibles, y la experiencia fue realmente un gran alivio! Primero la recepción muy amable, luego me trato la podóloga Ana, con mucha delicadeza y profesionalidad. Fue un placer saludar al Director el Dr San Román. Absolutamente recomendable! Trato excepcional!
Response from the owner:Hola Judy,
Muchísimas gracias por compartir tu experiencia con nosotros 😊. Nos alegra especialmente saber que, teniendo pies muy sensibles, sentiste tanto alivio tras el tratamiento y que desde la recepción hasta la consulta con nuestra podóloga Ana te hayas sentido bien atendida.
Ha sido un placer también para el Dr. San Román poder saludarte. Comentarios como el tuyo nos animan a seguir ofreciendo un trato cercano, delicado y profesional.
Gracias de nuevo por tu recomendación y por confiar en Clínica San Román. ¡Aquí nos tienes para lo que necesites en el futuro! 💙
Uitstekende goede ervaring in SAN ROMAN.Al mijn tenen werden PIJNLOOS behandeld.Super dokter.Heel goede,vriendelijke en duidelijke begeleiding van alle personeel.Overtreft mijn verwachtingen.Ben heel blij met mijn “ nieuwe” voeten.👍
Na 40 dagen op controle geweest,heel vriendelijk professioneel ontvangen door dokter Israël en zijn team.De dokter is een echte perfectionist.Ben heel tevreden.Spijtig dat ik zo lang gewacht heb om mij te laten behandelen in de kliniek. Hartelijk dank aan Maria,Cinthia en Carla.
Response from the owner:Hallo Francine,
Hartelijk dank dat u uw ervaring met ons deelt ⭐. We zijn blij te horen dat de behandeling pijnloos verliep en dat het resultaat uw verwachtingen heeft overtroffen. Bij Clínica San Román zetten wij ons elke dag in voor hoogwaardige voetzorg, met een toegewijd team dat de patiënt stap voor stap begeleidt.
Wij wensen u veel plezier met uw “nieuwe” voeten 👣 en staan altijd voor u klaar wanneer u ons nodig heeft.
Met vriendelijke groet,
Team Clínica San Román
SAN ROMÁN CLINIC
Discover Clínica San Román
We want you to get a closer look at how we work and what you can expect when you visit us. In this video we show you our facilities, our medical team and how we approach each case in a personalized way.
We are specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of foot problems, from common ailments to surgical interventions with minimally invasive techniques. We are committed to close attention, unhurried and focused on you.
If you have discomfort when walking or are looking for a definitive solution for your feet, this is your place. Press play and get to know us.
Clínica San Román es un centro especializado en podología y cirugía del pie con más de 45 años de experiencia. Nuestro equipo médico, liderado por expertos en cirugía mínimamente invasiva, comparte información confiable y actualizada sobre el cuidado de los pies, tratamientos innovadores y consejos para mejorar tu bienestar.
