Common Foot Deformities — Causes And Treatment Options

Some of the ones seen most often include:

• Bunions. If you’re not sure what a bunion is, imagine a giant bump on the inside of your foot, along the base of your big toe. Then imagine your big toe pushing into, or over, your second toe. That’s a bunion. (Also, if you imagine it on your smallest toe instead of your big toe, that’s a bunionette.)
• Hammertoes. In this condition, the tendon and muscle pairs responsible for straightening your toes become weak and unbalance, causing them to stay in a contracted position. The joints start out flexible, but becomes rigid (and more uncomfortable) as time passes. Hammertoes are the most common “curled toe” deformity, but related conditions include mallet toes (only the last toe joint is bent) and claw toes (all joints bent, usually due to a neurological disorder).
• Flat feet. Many people are born with flat feet (or never develop a proper arch), and they may or may not experience any pain from it. For others, the arch flattens over time, usually due to wear, tear, and overuse in the tendon or tendons responsible for supporting the arch. This is usually painful and can lead to further complications.

These foot abnormalities are linked in other ways. One is a shared set of risk factors.

Although we can’t always say with 100% certainty what caused your deformity, there are a handful of potential culprits that tend to be lurking under the surface in a significant percentage of cases:

• Genetics. Many foot deformities run in families. You might inherit flat feet, or other structural weaknesses in your feet that make you more likely to develop a bunion or hammertoe over time.
• Footwear. Poor shoes don’t necessarily cause deformities, but they can definitely exacerbate them! Shoes that lack proper support and cushioning, or force your toes into a cramped toe box, can lead to earlier development and faster progression of all kinds of foot deformities.
• Injuries. Most deformities are linked to the destabilization of a particular joint, or a failure of a particular set of bones, tendons, or ligaments. Direct damage to those structures (i.e. from stubbing a toe, tearing a tendon, dropping something on your foot, etc.) can hasten the development of related deformities.

Dr. Victoria Melhuish is a board-certified and experienced surgeon, is well-trained in multiple effective surgical techniques for reconstructive foot surgeries, and will work with you to develop a surgical plan that fits your condition and needs.

Our friendly staff will also make sure you’re fully educated on pre- and post-surgical care requirements so that you understand your responsibilities, are prepared for what’s coming, and can take great care of yourself while you’re on the mend!

We’re still guessing you would rather avoid surgery if possible. Therefore, when you notice your feet are starting to change shape, make an appointment to see us in Carson City. The earlier you see us, the more options we’ll have to treat you successfully!

Our mission is to keep our patients continuing to enjoy the things they love to do.  Give Sierra Foot & Ankle a call at (775) 783-8037, or contact us online!