Curly Toes

Overview 

Curly toes area a common congenital deformity which are present at birth affecting infants and children. The condition is noticeable as your child begins to walk and tends to occur on the third and fourth toes of both feet. It results from a contracture of either of the plantar digital tendons. Whilst it usually causes no symptoms, at times there can be flattening or thickening of the nails, sores or blisters, difficulty wearing some styles of shoes and infrequently pain or discomfort when walking. Curly toes are known to run in family and can be passed from parent to child.

When Curly toes are diagnosed they are graded into Grades 1, 2 or 3. Grade one is a mild curling of the toe,  grade two is mild over riding of an adjacent toe and grade three has increased curling of the toe where the toenail is not seen from the dorsum of the foot.

Treatment

Usually curly toes are usually not requiring active treatment as usually they are asymptomatic. At this time, they are continually monitored and footwear advise can be sought to ensure that toes have an adequate toe box to accommodate the deformity. If they do require some management, taping or toe splints with exercises and stretches can assist with managing the toes.

If the curly toes are symptomatic, problematic or persistent, surgical opinion can be sought however is usually advised to wait until children are over the age of 5. This is a simple procedure which is completed under anesthetic.