Corns form on the top of toes as a result of shoe pressure. Tight fitting shoes are a common cause and the condition is far more common in women. At our Centre approximately 80% of the patients that we operate on for corn surgery are woman.
Some patients appear far more prone to corns and this can often be explained by their foot structure. At risk foot types include, a long 2nd toe, toe clawing due to flat feet and compression on the small toes from a bunion. A bunion occurs when the great to is no longer straight and drifts towards the lesser toe. A trouble bony prominence generally forms, which is often irritated by foowear.
When surgically correcting the position of toes it is often necessary to re-align them so as to minimise the risk of recurrence. Typically, when the corn is removed, surgery is also undertaken to straighten and or shorten the toe so that the tension is reduced and the position is optimised.
Corn surgery is typically undertaken under local anaesthetic which means that patients are awake during the procedure. Surgery takes up to 2 hours and patients can go home soon after their operation. Recovery from the operation varies but activity is limited until the stitches in the toes are removed 2-3 weeks after surgery. Long acting anaesthetics are used and pain levels are therefore well controlled in combination with pain killers provided by the Centre.