ORTHOLILL >> themen im fokus >> Foot Section
The anatomy of the human foot is complex and completes a multitude of tasks. It consists of many different bones,
joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles, is supposed to last a lifetime and to contribute to different types of stress
situations.
By predisposition, but also by inappropriate footwear, this complex system can go out of balance.
This often results into a deformation of the foot and increasing discomforts.
The so-called hallux valgus (bunion) is one of the most common deformities of the forefoot. The first metatarsal bone
shifts towards the inside and the big toe drifts away laterally (to the outside) which results into a chronic painful
pressure on the ball. Over time, the big toe joint will show excessive wear. If surgery is recommended we will decide
individually which from the existing more than 100 procedures will be appropriate in your case (pure soft-tissue
correction, pure bony correction or a combination intervention).
Most patients are given a special shoe post-op to wear until the foot is healed. Another common foot deformity is the
so-called claw toe (also known as hammer toe). It is characterized by a particular curvature of the second and third
toe. Moreover, painful corns and calluses can occur. Part of the middle joint is removed in a minor surgical procedure
and the toe stabilized by a thin wire (Hohmann surgery).
If the chronic pain concerns the ball of the forefoot (metatarsalgia - literally metatarsal pain, colloquially known
as stone bruise) the affected metatarsal heads are shifted slightly to the rear and fixed by tiny screws (Weil
osteotomy).
