What is a Lisfranc injury? A lisfranc injury is a disruption between the tarsometarsal joint complex specifically damage to the lisfranc ligament that connects the medial cuneiform to the 2nd metatarsal. How to diagnose a Lisfranc injury? X-rays are typically used to diagnose lisfranc injuries and specifically attention is paid to a widening of the gap between the medical cuneiform …
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 …
Flat Feet (pes planus) or Fallen Arches
What is a flat foot? A flat foot is a decrease in the medial arch of your foot, which can be congenital or acquired. An acquired flat foot is called posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, which occurs over time as the posterior tibial tendon undergoes damage and decreases in function. How to diagnose a flatfoot? A flat foot can be diagnosed …
Plantar Fasciitis
What is the plantar fascia? The plantar fascia is layer of connective tissue that originates at the heel bone (calcaneus) and extends towards your toes. The plantar fascia is important for maintaining the stability of the foot arch. What is plantar fasciitis? Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia through repetitive micro trauma that causes tears and may lead …
Ingrown Toenail
What is an ingrown nail? An ingrown nail is when the nail grows into the skin causing irritation, which can lead to pain, swelling, redness, and infection. The toe can become infected if the nail causes a break in the skin and allows bacteria to enter. What are the causes of an ingrown toenail ? An ingrown toenail can …
Ankle Arthroscopy
What is ankle arthroscopy? Ankle arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that uses a fiber optic camera and other tools (shaver, radiofrequency abalator) to treat/diagnose pathology in the ankle joint. This procedures consists of 2 small incision on the medial side of the tibialis anterior tendon and lateral to the peroneus tertius tendon. Ankle arthroscopy can be done anteriorly and posteriorly …
Achilles Tendonitis
What is Achilles tendonitis? Achilles tendonitis is a chronic inflammation of achilles tendon that causes thickening and pain of the tendon. The thickening occurs anywhere along the tendon, but most commonly at the insertion. At the insertion of achilles there can also be abnormal bony enlargement from the calcaneus. This bone can also cause irritation forming a painful retrocalcaneal bursa. …
Plantar Foot Warts – Plantar Verrucae
What are foot warts? Warts are human papilloma virus (HPV – DNA virus) that live in the skin layer of the foot, specifically the epidermis. Most common strains of HPV that affect the hands are 1, 2, 4, and 10. Warts that grow together in clusters are called mosaic warts. What causes foot warts? Warts are transmitted through direct contact …
Osteomyelitis in Foot and Ankle (OM)
What is osteomyelitis? Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone with progressive inflammatory destruction. What causes osteomyelitis? There are many ways a bone can develop an infection, but are mainly categorized into hematogenous (from the blood), contiguous spread (from the surrounding tissue), or direct inoculation ( bacteria being put on the bone). How to diagnose osteomyelitis? Depending on the cause …
Melanoma
What is melanoma? Melanoma is a malignant skin cancer originating from the melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin, which is the pigment that gives skin color. There are 4 main types of melanoma: acral lentiginous, lentigo maligna, superficial spreading, and nodular. The most common type of melanoma is superficial spreading and the most aggressive is nodular. What causes an melanoma? …