A tailor’s bunion or bunionette, figure 1, is a bunion that occurs by the little toe. This is much like the bunion that occurs on the big toe joint, except that it occurs on the 5th toe joint. It is called a tailor’s bunion because many years ago tailors whould work while sitting on the ground with their legs crossed and the side of the foot pressing into the ground. This pressure led to an elargment of the toe and the bone below it (the fifth metatarsal head) would cause a painful bump to form. Tailor’s bunions can be very painful, but we can usually provide you with pain relief without resorting to surgery. Make an appointment today to see us in our Seattle clinic.
Figure 1: Tailor's Bunion
A tailor’s bunion is actually a rather involved deformity that includes:
A bump on the outside of the foot (at the 5th metatarsal head)
Angulation outward of the 5th metatarsal bone
Rotating inward of the little toe
CAUSES OF TAILOR’S BUNION
Tailor’s bunions often occur when the ligaments that hold the bones of
the foot together are more flexiable than normal. This allows the fifth
metatarsal bone to slowly move outward and the little toe to turn in
toward the 4th toe.
Common causes of the foot being too flexible include:
Genetics
Flat feet
Weakening of ligaments and muscles as we age
Injury
Tailor’s Bunions can be made worse by:
High heels
Arthritis of the 5th toe joint
Injury to the outside of the foot
Excessive Pronation
TREATMENT
Orthotics
In the long term, the goal of treatment is to reduce pressure on the 5th
metatarsal bone. The best way to accomplish this is to use proper
orthotics to rebalance the foot and to reduce the effects of the
excessive flexibility that leads to the bunionette.
The gold-standard of medical treatment is to use custom orthotics. If
properly prescribed, orthotics can act to:
Reduce pressure on the 5th metatarsal head
Rebalance the foot
Reduce the effects of excessive ligament flexibility
Slow progression of the deformity
Eliminate or reduce pain
Orthotics are often a very effective treatment in reducing pain
associated with a tailor’s bunion. Keep in mind, however, that orthotics
cannot make the bunion smaller. For an evaluation,
call today for an
appointment in our Seattle office.
Shoes
Shoes are also an important part of treatment. A good shoe store can
help you find shoes that will not put pressure on the 5th metatarsal
head. Sometimes stretching the shoe over the painful area can be very
helpful.
Surgery
We believe surgery should be a last resort, but In cases where
conservative treatment does not relieve your symptoms, surgery can be a
very effective solution. Tailor’s bunion surgery is similar in many ways
to standard bunion surgery , so for detailed information on our approach
to surgery please read our bunion surgery page. For detailed information
on how we would approach surgery for your foot, call today for a
surgical consultation.
Don’t let your tailor's bunions get worse. Early treatment can prevent future problems. Call today for an appointment in our Seattle office.
WEBSITE DISCLAIMER
For website errors ONLY email webmaster at
WEBMASTER
All pages on this website © 2005-2010
Douglas Hale, DPM & Lawrence Huppin, DPM
Foot and Ankle Center of Washington, Seattle
The material provided on this web site is for informative purposes only.
If you need specific medical advice, please contact the office for an appointment.
