Corns are usually caused by abnormal pressure on the skin, often due to underlying deformity of the bones, tissues and joints. They can be present anywhere on the foot, however they most often develop in places where there is an unusually high amount of pressure caused either by footwear or adjacent parts of the foot.
People often have to keep visiting the podiatrist over and over again to cut the corns out only to have them return time and time again. This can be very frustrating, especially when the corn returns quickly.
Dr Buckley can perform a range of minor corn surgery procedures to cure corns and permanently prevent recurrence.
Corns over the top of the toes, or underneath the toes
These can develop as a result of hammertoe, claw toe, and mallet toe deformities, or as a result of a ligament or plantar plate injury that has caused the toe to bend up
The surgical treatment involves making the toes straight again and rebalancing the ligaments and soft tissues around the toe joints so that they are realigned.
The recovery for this type of corn surgery depends on the procedure, but generally it involves 3 – 6 weeks of modified activities and gradual return to full activities thereafter.
Corns between the toes
Corns between the toes can present as soft or hard corns, and are often difficult to access for regular treatment. These are usually caused by a combination of footwear as well as position and shape of the bones and joints in the toes.
Surgical treatment often involves a simple removal of a tiny portion of bone that is causing the problem. Sometimes plastic reconstruction and soft tissue rebalancing are needed to ensure better alignment of the toe in relation to its neighbor, reducing the risk of recurrence.
Recovery from this type surgery is dependent but can be as little as 2-4 weeks.
Corn on the outside of the little toe (Lister’corn)
Painful corns that develop on the outside end of the little toe right next to or involving the nail are called Lister’s Corns. They are often caused by a combination of the shape and length of the toe, the size, shape and alignment of the bones under the skin, and the footwear or the ground causing friction.
Surgical treatment can be very simple involving as little as a tiny incision and shaving or filing a small portion of the underlying bone.
Recovery is patient dependent, however, usually 2 weeks of modified activities followed by gradual return to normal activities thereafter.
Corns and painful calluses in the ball of the foot
Corns and calluses on the ball of the foot can be debilitating. These often require special footwear modifications and endless follow-ups at the podiatrist to have the skin removed. Sometimes these can become sever enough to ulcerate, particularly in the elderly and those with chronic health problems such as diabetes. The cause is often due to underlying deformities of the bones of the foot. When these appear in isolated or focused areas of the ball of the foot such as under the second toe, it can be suggestive of an underlying process that involves injury to the associated joint.
Surgical treatment for painful debilitating corns and calluses on the ball of the foot involves identifying the underlying cause and treating the deformities of the bones and joints by either removing a small portion of bone, or repositioning the bones and realigning soft tissues in such a way to correct the problem.
Recovery is dependent on the type of procedure performed as well as individual circumstances, however generally patients need 4-6 weeks of modified activity followed by gradual return to normal activities thereafter.
To book a consultation with Dr Ned Buckley regarding Bunion Surgery, please contact our clinic on 9481 8194 or use our online booking system for an instant appointment.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.