Foot and Laser Surgery

How Does It Form?

Corns are caused by the pressure or friction of a shoe against the underlying bone. With repeated rubbing or friction over time, a callus will form as the body's means of protection and adaptation. If this callus did not form, injury to the soft tissue could result in possible infection. In most cases, the propensity to form corns, and the underlying bone spurs, are hereditary and may occur with other foot problems. Many painful corns are common with young women wearing tight shoes. The longer you leave a corn or bone spur syndrome untreated, the more harm it may cause, and the larger the spur may grow.

Symptoms

Bone spur syndrome is first seen as a sore painful corn, sometimes red and inflamed. Some patients will pick at the corn, apply corn medication, or peel it off and then it returns in no time.

Diagnostic Test

After an accurate history and physical for corns and bone spurs, a clinical diagnosis is made by visual inspection and by palpation or touching the area. An X-ray of the bones is usually required to make an accurate diagnosis and to localize the involved bone. Trimming of a corn or callus does not produce bleeding, which helps differentiate it from a wart which looks like a corn.

Treatment

At Foot First Podiatry, we use current and innovative therapies to treat our patients. Our unique treatment consists of reducing pain and inflammation in the area and preventing recurrence. A surgical or non-surgical treatment plan may be used.

Non-Surgical Approach

Most corns can be easily trimmed in our office painlessly. More severe corns, ones with central "cores", can be painlessly treated by trimming the corn or by laser excision. We may also need to inject a small amount of anti-inflammatory medication beneath the corn to reduce pain and swelling. Conservative treatment for corns is frequently not a permanent cure. We may also recommend custom made orthotics and different types of shoe gear to help ease the pain and prevent reccurrence.

Surgical Approach

Foot First Podiatry has a state-of-the-art surgical facility on site. There is no hospital stay needed and most procedures can be completed within one to two hours. We also provide complete anesthesia services including the use of "twilight" sedation. This is done through an I.V. and allows the patient to be not only pain-free, but also the patient will not recall the surgical experience itself. At Foot First, we not only care about the health of our patients, but also the cosmetic outcome of our surgery as well. Our doctors utilize plastic surgical techniques for closing the surgical site.

The procedure involves a small incision and the removal of the bone spur and possibly the release of the deforming tendon. This is a very small procedure that usually requires only a Band-Aid postoperatively.

Patients will not require the use of crutches and there are no bulky casts. Walking is permitted the same day following surgery, generally in an athletic shoe or occasionally a surgical shoe.

You may experience postoperative discomfort, which can be controlled by icing and elevating the foot, and by prescription medications. Most patients can return to work the following day.