Foot corn is a type of callus that forms on the toes. It is caused by friction and pressure from shoes. Corns can be painful, making it difficult to wear shoes. It occurs on the tip, between, or on the top of the feet and toes- that is mostly on the non-weight regions of the skin. If the individual has a hammertoe condition, the middle toe may remain bent upward resulting in the formation of uncomfortable calluses or corns.
Each patient is different and the physician may suggest surgical correction or conservation treatment according to the individual’s condition. The physician may consider certain factors like the seriousness of the callus and corn tissue, age, medical conditions, and current lifestyle.
The physician would recommend foot corn removal surgery when the conservative treatment does not work out. With the surgical procedure, discoloured and thick regions of the corn will be removed. If needed, the offending part of the bone spur or bone will also be removed to inhibit corn from recurring.
The foot corn removal surgery is performed under local anaesthesia. The physician may utilize tools like cauterized by Radiofrequency, high-frequency lasers, and scalpels to remove the corns.
Incision: According to the patient's toe structure and shape, the physician would opt to open the side of the toe or from the top.
Curettage: This involves scraping with a spoon-shaped instrument to remove calloused tissue and underlying soft tissue.
Elevation: The removed tissue is then elevated to close the wound. It helps in better blood circulation and prevents infection.
In some cases, the physician may make an additional cut in the fourth toe to avoid two bones from crashing against each other.
After removing the corn, the physician would prescribe antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. The wound is then covered with a sterile bandage or dressing.
The deep corn removal procedure is a day-care surgery and patients can go home after the procedure. The physician may take approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour to perform the surgery.