Corns
Description:
A corn is a type of callous with a hard core in the center that can occur on the top, between or on the tip of the toes.
Corns are caused by excessive pressure or friction from prominent bone structures:
Like a callus, the skin simply thickens to protect your toe, but the small spur or sharp corner of bone creates the same small or sharp callous or corn. Pain ranges from dull to sharp depending upon the level of irritation and compression of the nerves in the toes.
Treatment: Conservative Care:
| Shoes: | A larger, softer shoe can relieve the direct pressure or pressure from adjacent toes. Make sure that the shoe has enough room at the end about the width of your thumb and that the toe box (front of the shoe) is high enough to allow your toes to move freely. |
| Paring: | Reduction by either professional sharp debridement (shaving) or consistent filing will give temporary relief. Use caution with over the counter corn removal medication or pads. The medication is a type of acid that can cause an ulceration or infection if not used properly or in excess. |
| Padding: | There is an array of over the counter corn pads. They can be placed directly over the corn or on either side of the lesion to relieve the pressure. |
Surgical Options
The offending spur or toe joint is remodeled and affected toe is straightened if necessary. Depending on the location or severity, the skin lesion or corn itself is removed during the procedure or it will naturally fall off 3 to 4 weeks after the surgery. The incision is minimal (1.5cm to 3/4 inch) on the top or side of the toe. Sutures are removed at 2 weeks. The procedure is performed in the office with local anesthetic or at an outpatient facility under sedation and full weight bearing is allowed after 48 to 72 hours of partial weight bearing.
