There is a gene for that!

My great grandmother had a crossover toe i.e. the 2^nd toe on her right foot sat on her big toe. It sat there firmly and could not be moved back. As kids, we thought that was hilarious.

Last year, I noticed that my father’s right foot had a crossover toe. Look, I told him, it’s just like your grandmother’s.

It didn’t hurt him but he could now wear only slip-on shoes or slippers that didn’t have a toe.

This year, I noticed that the 2^nd toe of my right foot had wandered close to the big toe. In fact, it was getting positively chummy, leaning against it.

Dangit… there’s a gene for that!

I googled ‘crossed toe’ and got 16,000 results in 0.33 seconds!

The link to NBC 29 from Charlottesville, VA gave the best definition:

“Crossover toe is a condition in which the second toe drifts toward the big toe and eventually crosses over and lies on top of the big toe. Crossover toe is a common condition that can occur at any age, although it is most often seen in adults.

Some people confuse crossover toe with a hammertoe, probably because both conditions involve a toe that does not lie in the normal position. However, crossover toe is entirely different from a hammertoe-and much more complex.”

The site goes on to say that:

“Although the crossing over of the toe usually occurs over a period of time, it can appear more quickly if caused by injury or overuse.

Symptoms may include:

• Pain - particularly on the ball of the foot. It can feel like there's a marble in the shoe or a sock is bunched up.
• Swelling in the area of pain, including the base of the toe
• Difficulty wearing shoes

Crossover toe is a progressive disorder. Without treatment, the condition usually worsens to dislocation of the joint, so it is very beneficial to have a foot and ankle surgeon evaluate the foot soon after pain first occurs.”

Right.

But nowhere does it say that it is genetic. How else do you explain 3 generations of crossed toe?

I don’t have any pain. Yet. And I can wiggle the 2^nd toe and place my big toe over it. But for how long???

One site suggested taping and splinting to help the 2^nd toe stay in position.

 

 

Fig 1 shows my foot the way I think it was last year. Fig 2 is what I imagine it will be next year or soon enough!