OurHealthNetwork.com


Home > Medical Conditions > Foot & Ankle Conditions > Foot & Ankle Condition: Tailors Bunion (Bunionette)
Home
Ask Our Doctor
Medical Conditions
Medical Products Store
Custom-Fit Orthotics
Surgery Videos
About Us
Contact Us
Testimonials

Tailor's Bunion (Bunionette)



Tailor's Bunion : Description
Description | Causes | Treatment

Description: The terms doctors use to describe a bunion that forms by the little toe are Tailor's Bunion and Bunionette. This type of bunion is similar to the bunion that forms by the big toe joint, except it forms on the joint just below the fifth toe. It is called a Tailor's Bunion because years ago tailors would sit on the floor with their legs crossed and sew for hours. This constant and abnormal pressure on the fifth toe, and the bone below it (the fifth metatarsal head) would cause an inflamed and painful bump to form which resembled bunions that formed on the big toe side of the footTailor's Bunion.

A Tailor's Bunion is a complex deformity that involves the following foot pathology:

A bump that develops on the outer side of the foot, in the area where the little toe and the bone it connects to (the fifth metatarsal) meet. The joint where these two bones meet is called the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint.
The turning inward of the little toe, so that it presses against the fourth toe (the little toe is no longer straight).

Tailor's Bunions are a progressive deformity, and if left untreated the bump will become larger, and the little toe will eventually lie over or underneath the fourth toe.

Tailor's Bunion : Causes
Description | Causes | Treatments

Causes of Tailor's Bunions: The normal foot is made up of bones and joints which are held tightly together, in a precise relationship. In order for a Tailor's Bunion to form, the ligaments and tendons which hold the bones and joints together must be more flexible (lax) than normal. This abnormal laxity allows the fifth metatarsal to gradually drift towards the outside of the foot, and the little toe to turn in, toward the fourth toe. The result is a prominent bump on the outside of the fifth metatarsal, at the metatarsophalangeal joint. If pressure is applied to this bump (like pressure from a shoe), the bump and its surrounding soft tissues enlarge, causing pain, swelling, and eventually a Tailor's Bunion.

The most common causes of lax (flexible) foot ligaments are:
1.
the genes we inherit from our parents
2. flat feet
3. the weakening of muscles and ligaments caused by advancing age
4. injury.

Tailor's Bunion progression may be hastened by:
Wearing high heel and pointed toe shoes. These types of shoes apply abnormal pressure to the little toe and force it over toward the fourth toe; and, irritate the fifth metatarsal head causing a bump to form (when bone is irritated it enlarges).
Injury to the outer side of the foot, or little toe may damage the fifth metatarsalphalangeal joint, and speed up Tailor's Bunion formation.
Arthritis of the fifth metatarsalphalangeal joint may cause the joint to become enlarged, and a bunion may then form.
One leg being shorter than the other. When walking, the foot on the short leg turns in and down, trying to "reach" the ground. The foot is trying to equalize the length of the legs. This action of the foot turns the fifth metatarsal head into the shoe, allowing the shoe to rub against the fifth metatarsal head with excessive force. This will cause swelling, inflammation, pain, and growth of the Tailor's Bunion.

Tailor's Bunion : Treatment
Description | Causes | Treatment

Long term treatment must be directed towards reducing abnormal pressure on the fifth metatarsal head. This is best accomplished by re-balancing the foot, and allowing the foot to function as if it was not abnormally flexible. The "Gold Standard" of medical care which will best accomplishes this is custom-made orthotics. Our custom-made orthotics will:

1. Gently control and reduce flexibility of the foot. This allows the foot to function normally.
2. Protect the fifth metatarsal head from excessive pressure, by the use of our unique lateral wedge, which correctly supports the fifth metatarsal and reduces excessive pressure on the metatarsal head (the Tailor's Bunion).
3. Compensate for a short leg with the addition of lifts, to equalize the length of the legs.

Our custom-made orthotics comfortably re-balance the feet and help to overcome the forces that cause Tailor's Bunion formation. This will allow the feet to function normally. As a result, the deformity should not worsen, and the pain should gradually subside. If the foot is not re-balanced, the deformity and pain will become worse. In addition, comfort is also provided to the arch, shins, knees, and lower back by the use of our modern materials. These unique materials provide semi-flexible support to the arch by "giving" to absorb the shock of each step, rather than our foot absorbing the shock (our orthotics act in the same way a shock absorber does on an automobile). When your weight is removed from the orthotic, the arch returns to its original height since the material we use has a built-in "memory."

Click here to order a pair of our uniquely effective custom-made orthotics for this condition, which will fit in any shoe with a heel height of 1 and 1/2 inches or less.

Short term pain relievers include the following:

1. Wear wider and flatter shoes, with a rounded toe.
2. Apply Vaseline to the bunion, and the inside of your sock (apply to the area that will rub against the bunion), before putting your shoes on. This may help to reduce friction on the skin overlying the bunion, which may help to reduce your pain.
3. Gentle massage with a topical pain reliever can help to provide comfort. By combining the pain relieving properties of Tripod Labs Flexstat Topical Pain Reliever with gentle massage, pain, swelling, and inflammation can be reduced or eliminated.
4. Exercise the toe. With your hand, move the toe up and down, and gently move it out as far as is comfortable, for 3 to 5 minutes daily. If this becomes painful, stop immediately.
5. If you ever experience open sores, extreme redness, or extreme pain, see a podiatrist immediately.


20000
click photo for product information

Custom-Made Orthotics Impression Kit For This Condition

A set of custom-made orthotics, designed by our Board Certified Podiatrists specifically for this condition, is just $189.90. A foam impression kit will be shipped to you for $44.95. When you order now, you will be billed just $44.95 for the foam impression kit. This amount will apply directly toward the purchase of your custom-made orthotics. Click here to learn more about how our orthotics are made and how they will benefit you.

Order yours from OurFootDoctor.com: $189.90
($44.95 today and $144.95 when you return your molds.) 



Item No.:

90000
Price: $44.95
Quantity:


20000
click photo for product information

Tripod Labs Flexstat Topical Pain Reliever



Item No.:

30104
Price: $20.50
Sale Price: $18.50
Quantity:







AOL Editor's Choice
Netscape Open Directory Cool site!
MSN Most Popular
© 2006 OurHealthNetwork.com
designed and developed by americaneagle.com