Corn on ball of foot

[tupenny]

Hi all Just wonderered if anyone knows what is involved when having a corn surgically removed?
thanks

[FootDoc]

DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
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As the title of your post indicates the problem to be on the ball of the foot, I will assume that you mean a seed corn, sometime, probably incorrectly termed a porokeratosis, rather than the more common one found on the dorsum, side or distal aspect of a toe. The causes of these two foot problems are not in the slightest associated, and treatment for each is totally different. I should tell you that surgical removal of seed corns is statistically not particularly successful, and reassurances are common-place. Surgical removal is normally accomplished by curettage, rather than full-thickness excision with suture closure, as full-thickness excision will always heal with some scar tissue, which, on the sole of the foot, may well be as painful as the seed corn. Surgical removal of seed corns is generally performed very much like a curettage procedure for a wart, by first numbing the area with a local anesthetic, then circumscribing the lesion with a surgical blade and finally employing a curette (a small spoon-like instrument) to scoop it out, with care taken not to penetrate the germinative layer of the dermis, so as to minimize the chance of scar tissue formation. Often the resulting crater is then chemically cauterized. But, as I stated, recurrence are very common. The procedure can also be done by hyfrecation (burning with an "electric needle" or by cryotherapy) with similar results. Post-operative pain is very subjective and varies from patient to patient, but is generally minimal to mild.

[tupenny]

Thanks foot doc
That was very informative, I have asked the consultant of details of this proceedure (who has also operated on 3 of my toes recently) 5 times recently and all he says very abruptly is 'Oh its nothing to worry about' once again thanks

[FootDoc]

Originally Posted by tupenny

Thanks foot doc
That was very informative, I have asked the consultant of details of this proceedure (who has also operated on 3 of my toes recently) 5 times recently and all he says very abruptly is 'Oh its nothing to worry about' once again thanks

That's unfortunate. In my view, an essential part of non-emergency medicine is keeping the patient well-informed and involved in the process. It has been said that the definition of "minor surgery" is surgery done on someone else.

Also, keep in mind that my description of the procedure is based on the method that I commonly employ, and your doctor's selection of procedure and technique may vary from this without its being inappropriate.

Originally Posted by FootDoc

DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
************************************************** *********
As the title of your post indicates the problem to be on the ball of the foot, I will assume that you mean a seed corn, sometime, probably incorrectly termed a porokeratosis, rather than the more common one found on the dorsum, side or distal aspect of a toe. The causes of these two foot problems are not in the slightest associated, and treatment for each is totally different. I should tell you that surgical removal of seed corns is statistically not particularly successful, and reassurances are common-place. Surgical removal is normally accomplished by curettage, rather than full-thickness excision with suture closure, as full-thickness excision will always heal with some scar tissue, which, on the sole of the foot, may well be as painful as the seed corn. Surgical removal of seed corns is generally performed very much like a curettage procedure for a wart, by first numbing the area with a local anesthetic, then circumscribing the lesion with a surgical blade and finally employing a curette (a small spoon-like instrument) to scoop it out, with care taken not to penetrate the germinative layer of the dermis, so as to minimize the chance of scar tissue formation. Often the resulting crater is then chemically cauterized. But, as I stated, recurrence are very common. The procedure can also be done by hyfrecation (burning with an "electric needle" or by cryotherapy) with similar results. Post-operative pain is very subjective and varies from patient to patient, but is generally minimal to mild.

Is there an orthotic that could be used that would keep the "corn" from coming back? Is there anything else that can be done to relieve the pain of these so-called "corns".

[FootDoc]

DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
************************************************** *********
You remind me of some patients who after I have given a long list of possible treatments for some ailment say to me, "I guess there's nothing that can be done for this . . huh?" I've already given a summary of the generally accepted treatments for attempted permanent removal. If I knew of others I would certainly not have held back on them. Orthotics are intended for pathomechanical problems. Seed corns are not pathomechanical problems. The best one might hope for from an orthotic is possibly incidentally relieving the weight-bearing pressure on the seed corn . . or possibly increasing the pressure.