Bunions and hammertoes are common foot deformities that can cause pain, irritation, and difficulty wearing shoes or walking comfortably. Although they affect different joints of the foot, the two conditions can occur together and may become more troublesome over time.

A bunion develops when the joint at the base of the big toe moves out of alignment, causing the big toe to angle toward the smaller toes and creating a prominent bump along the side of the foot. Repeated pressure and friction from footwear can cause the area to become red, tender, and inflamed. As the condition progresses, walking may become uncomfortable, and corns, calluses, stiffness, or arthritis may develop. Foot structure, genetics, and certain foot mechanics can contribute to bunion formation, while poorly fitting footwear may aggravate symptoms.

A hammertoe occurs when one of the smaller toes, most commonly the second, third, or fourth toe, bends abnormally at the middle joint. Initially, the toe may remain flexible, but over time it can become increasingly rigid. The abnormal position can cause rubbing against footwear, resulting in pain, irritation, corns or calluses. Muscle or tendon imbalance, foot structure, and footwear that crowds the toes can contribute to the development or progression of hammertoes.
Both conditions range from mild to more advanced deformities. An evaluation can help determine the severity of the problem and whether conservative treatment or, in some cases, surgical correction may be appropriate.