Tailor's Bunion: Surgery & Treatment

Tailor's Bunion, also referred to as bunionette is a deformity that occurs near the little toe. As we all know, the 5 long bones located in our foot are known as metatarsals. In this condition, the fifth metatarsal bone, that is situated at the base of the little toe, is enlarged and points outwards. The occurrence of bunionette is more common in women than men. This deformity is caused due to a faulty bone structure within the foot. The tendons and ligaments of the foot hold the bones and joints tightly together. However, people with tailor's bunion have more flexible ligaments that allows the fifth metatarsal to project slightly outwards.

Symptoms

The person usually experiences symptoms after wearing shoes that rub on the affected area causing excessive irritation of the skin. This may lead to skin infections. In general, the symptoms of this bone deformity that occur at the site of inflammation are as follows:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Redness

Treatment

The best way to deal with tailor's bunion is by changing footwear. This conservative form of treatment works quite well in reducing pain. A person suffering from bunionette should wear sandals or shoes that have wider toe box. Using flatter shoes that come with a rounded toe are also a good option. Wearing pointed toe and high heel shoes, can worsen the condition as these shoes apply undue pressure on the little toe. Corticosteroid injections are often recommended to treat the inflammation. Injection therapy has also been beneficial in decreasing the discomfort associated with bunionette. Some doctors also advice bunionette pads to be placed on the affected area to reduce the pain. Another medical approach involves applying an ice pack to decrease the inflammation. Anti-inflammatory oral medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen, can also help ease discomfort. The dosage of these medicines should be taken as prescribed, as excessive usage can lead to stomach irritation.

Other non-surgical options include the use of custom orthotic devices that help in controlling abnormal forefoot functions. When the foot does not function properly, it gives rise to pain in certain areas. These devices support the ligaments and realign the bone structure of the foot, thus relieving the pain. In other words, these devices try to re-balance the foot and help overcome the factors that cause this deformity. As a result, the condition does not aggravate and the pain gradually subsides. These devices act like shock absorbers and provide comfort to the user.

Surgery

If the above non-surgical methods do not show any improvement in the symptoms associated with this condition, then surgery is the last resort to correct this bone problem. The surgical procedure used to correct the bone structure is called tailor's bunionectomy. Surgery is done in order to realign the bone so that it does not protrude outside the foot. The aim is to reduce the enlarged prominence that surrounds the fifth metatarsal. In this procedure, a small portion of the metatarsal is removed or a surgical fracture is created to realign the bone. After surgery, the patient is advised to wear a surgical shoe and reduce activities like walking and standing, to get the desired outcome.