Tailor’s Bunion

Tailor’s Bunion

A Tailor’s bunion is defined as a bony prominence on the outside aspect of the foot near the baby toe (5th metatarsal-phalangeal joint).  It is similar in presentation and treatment of a bunion. 

As with a bunion, a tailor’s bunion is often hereditary, although tight and/or narrow shoes may exacerbate the problem.  One may be born with a foot type that causes an imbalance in the muscles and ligaments of the foot.  This imbalance may then result in the fifth metatarsal to deviate laterally (away from the midline of the body) which leads eventually to a bony prominence of the fifth metatarsal head, otherwise known as a tailor’s bunion.

Similar to a bunion, conservative treatment (shoegear modification, padding) is limited.  Often times, surgery is the only option.  The procedure is performed at a surgery center or hospital as an outpatient procedure that should last approximately one hour.  Surgery consists of either shaving the bone, in milder cases, to cutting/ breaking the bone and placing the bone back into the correct position with titanium compression screw fixation, in more severe cases.  Plastic skin closure is often utilized for optimal aesthetic outcome.  Post-operatively, the patient is seen back at our office every 1-2 weeks to ensure proper healing is taking place.

Usual healing time for mild cases is 4 weeks and for severe cases is 6 weeks, but the patients may start walking on their new foot the very next day.  Dr. Baik believes that early range of motion to the surgery site actually improves healing time by improving circulation, reducing scar tissue, and preventing muscle atrophy.

http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/tailors-bunion.htm