What is not typically a characteristic of hammer toe?

A characteristic of hammer toe is the abnormal positioning of the affected joints in the toe. Typically, hammer toe results in a dorsiflexed position at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint while the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint remains in a plantarflexed position during ambulation or when the toe is resting.

Thus, in hammer toe, the MTP joint is not typically plantarflexed; rather, it is often in a more neutral position or can sometimes be slightly dorsiflexed due to muscle imbalance. The PIP joint, on the other hand, becomes pulled upwards, giving rise to the dorsal flexion that characterizes this condition.

Adjacent toe curling is also a common feature associated with hammer toe, as the misalignment of one toe can lead to compensatory changes in the nearby toes. Therefore, the correct answer highlights a characteristic that is not typically associated with hammer toe, emphasizing the usual dorsiflexed position of the PIP joint and the irregular positioning of the MTP joint.