Corns, Calluses and Pain May Indicate Joint Problems.
Many disorders can affect the joints of the toes, causing pain and preventing the foot from functioning
as it should. People of all ages can have toe problems.
The major culprit of toe deformities in adults is tendon imbalance. When the natural function of the
foot is disrupted the tendons may stretch or tighten to compensate. Thus, people with abnormally long
toes, flat feet or high arches have a greater tendency to develop to deformities.
Arthritis that slowly destroys the joint surface is another major cause of discomfort and deformity.
Toe deformities also can be aggravated by restrictive or ill-fitting footwear worn for a prolonged amount
of time. Or, problems with toe position may occur if a fractured toe heals in a poor position.
Common Deformities
The most common digital deformities are hammertoes, claw toes, mallet toes, bone spurs, overlapping
and underlapping toes, and curled toes.
These deformities may or may not be painful. Corns and calluses - a buildup of skin on the affected
joint, often associated with bursitis (inflammation of small pouches, called bursas, which lie above
the joint between the tendon and skin) - are perhaps the most noticeable and bothersome symptoms. If
deformities are left untreated, the toe's mobility may become limited, and more serious problems, such
as skin ulceration and infection, may develop.
Hammertoes
A hammertoe may be
flexible or rigid, and may occur on any of the lesser toes. Ligaments and tendons that have tightened
cause the toe's joints to buckle, cocking the toe upward. Shoes then rub on the prominent portion of
the toe, leading to inflammation or bursitis. Corns and calluses soon form.
During the early stages, a hammertoe remains flexible, meaning it will straighten when pressure is
applied to the buckled area. As time passes, the toe can become permanently buckled or rigid requiring
surgery for correction. Painful calluses on the bottom of the foot may accompany rigid hammertoes because
of pressure generated on the joint.
Mallet Toes and Claw Toes
Mallet toes and claw toes are similar in appearance to hammertoes but joints at different locations
on the toe are affected. The joint at the end of the toe buckles in a mallet toe, while a claw toe involves
abnormal positions of all three joints of the toe.
Bone Spur
A bone spur is an overgrowth of bone that may occur alone of along with a hammertoe. Pain, corns and
calluses are the major symptoms. Left untreated a bone spur may eventually be accompanied by bursitis
or small skin ulceration.
Overlapping and Underlapping Toes
Any one of the toes can overlap or underlap, pushing on adjacent toes and causing irritation. Overlapping
or underlapping of the fifth toe is a common congenital problem that is easily corrected in children.
Bunions can cause the second toe to over lap in adults. Pain, inflammation and small corns or areas
of built up tissue may result. This deformity also can interfere with the normal function of the foot,
and if left untreated, may lead to enlargement of bone or bone spur formation.
When the deformity is painful or permanent, surgical correction is recommended to relieve pain, correct
the problem and provide a stable, functional toe.
Depending on health status, surgery may be conducted on an outpatient basis at Lourdes.
Tenoplasty and/or capsulotomy refer, respectively, to the release or lengthening of tightened
tendons and ligaments that have caused the joint to contract. In some flexible hammertoe cases, the
toe straightens out after these soft tissue structures are lengthened or cut and relaxed. Surgery relieves
pain and improves the toe's mobility.
Tendon Transfer, another treatment for a flexible hammertoe deformity, involved the repositioning
of a tendon to straighten the toe.
During bone arthroplasty procedures, some bone and cartilage is removed to correct the deformity.
A small portion of bone is removed at the joint, eliminating pressure on the toe, relieving pain and
straightening the digit. The tendons and ligaments surrounding the joint also may be reconstructed.
Multiple digits can be operated on simultaneously in certain cases.
Derotation arthroplasty is a variation of arthroplasty used to realign the toe. A small wedge
of skin is removed and the toe is properly positioned. The surgeon also may remove a small amount of
bone, and will repair the toe's tendons and ligaments.
Implant arthroplasty is similar to arthroplasty in that a small portion of bone is removed.
A silicone rubber or metal implant specially designed for the toe is inserted to replace the gliding
surfaces of the joint and to act as a joint spacer. Implant arthroplasty helps maintain toe length while
relieving pain, and realigning and stabilizing the joint. Implants may be recommended when previous
surgery has left the toe improperly positioned without skeletal support.
Fusion of the toe is most often used to correct toe fractures or, like implant arthroplasty,
to increase the stability of the toe after arthroplasty. After the bone ends are removed, they are positioned
together and compressed so that the bones unite. Fusions may be stabilized with a stainless steel pin
as the bone heals. Care must be taken to avoid any impact that would damage or break the pin after surgery.
Pins typically remain in place for approximately five to eight weeks.
Some swelling, stiffness and limited mobility can be expected following surgery, sometimes for as long
as eight to twelve weeks.
While these are some of the most commonly prescribed treatments for digital disorders, others may be
used. The podiatric surgeon will determine which treatment is likely to be the most successful in each
case.
Ask your physician about surgical procedures to correct digital disorders at Lourdes.