Stingray Sting and Injury

What treatment should you do after being immediately stung by a sting ray? If you are someone is comfortable with removing the stingray stinger, make sure to remove it slowly and carefully. Breaking the stinger into the wound will make it more difficult to remove in the future. If you feel uncomfortable with removing the stinger you can seek medical …

Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Foot and Ankle

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)?  Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disease that mainly attacks the joints. Overtime if the rheumatoid arthritis is not controlled it can cause chronic severe pain, erosion of joints, and deformity. A common board question related to RA is to check the cervical spine prior to surgical intervention.  How are the symptoms of …

Os Trigonum Syndrome

What is the Os Trigonum? The Os Trigonum in an extra bone that can develop behind the ankle joint behind the talus. This accessory bone is connected to the talus by a fibrous band and is present at birth. It can be present in either one or both ankles.  What is Os Trigonum Syndrome? Most people with an os trigonum …

Stress fracture of Metatarsal

What are the metatarsals? There are 5 long, skinny bones in the foot called the metatarsals that connect the tarsal bones to the toes.  What is a stress fracture? A stress fracture is a small crack in the bone caused by overuse and repetitive activity. This occurs most commonly in runners and athletes.   What are the risk factors factors? …

Webbed Toes or syndactyly

What is webbed toes? Webbed toes is a condition that people are born with when two or more toes are partially or fully connected by a flexible skin bridge or bony fusion. Webbed toes are seen in 1 in 2000 births and most commonly occur between the 2nd and 3rd toe. Tibial syndactyly is between the 1st and 2nd toe, Central …

Urea cream

What is Urea cream? Urea is a natural substance made in the body to help with the metabolism and excretion of nitrogen. Scientist have learned to synthesize it and it is used for many different purposes. Urea cream typically ranges from 2% to 40% in potency and is used to help soften thick layers of skin and nails, also it …

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome of the Foot

What is the tarsal tunnel? The tarsal tunnel is a narrow space on the inside of the ankle that contains the Tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, Tibial artery,Tibial Vein Tibial nerve, flexor hallucinating longus. These structures are covered by the flexor retinaculum (laciniate ligament) that extends from the medial malleolus to the calcaneus.  What is tarsal tunnel syndrome? Tarsal tunnel syndrome is the compression of …

Equinus of the Foot and Ankle

What is equinus? Equinus is a condition with limited dorsiflexion/up wards bending of the ankle joint. People with equinus are unable to bend there ankle joint past about 90 degrees, typically people are supposed to get an additional 10 degrees.  What are the causes of equinus? Equinus is typically caused by a tight achilles tendon that is formed from the …

Sesamoiditis of the foot

What are the sesamoids of the foot? There are two sesamoids in each foot, the Tibial and Fibular sesamoid. The sesamoid are located underneath your big toe joint forming the sesamoid apparatus. The sesamoids function as a pulley for tendons and allow leverage when the big toe pushes off the ground.  What is sesamoiditis? Sesamoiditis is inflammation of the sesamoids …

Bunionette – “Tailor’s Bunion” of the foot

What is a Tailor’s Bunion? A tailor’s bunion is a painful bony prominence on lateral aspect of the 5th met head. The pain from a Tailor’s bunion is caused by the large bony prominence that is rubbing against shoe wear and/or a painful bursa formation. How to diagnose a Tailor’s Bunion? A tailor’s bunion can be seen clinically and X-rays …