Corns on the feet are most commonly caused by excessive pressure on the toe or bottom of the foot from wearing tight or ill-fitting shoes. When painful corns on your feet become unbearable and conservative treatments no longer work, surgery is a viable option. Corns, known medically as heloma, can become excruciating, making even the simplest daily activities a painful ordeal. The surgical procedure involves making a small incision over the affected toe to access the corn. The foot doctor removes the corn, repairs any tendon that may be involved, and closes the incision. Various numbing options, including general anesthesia, a spinal block, or local anesthesia with sedation, are offered based on the severity of the procedure. Surgery for painful corns addresses the root causes of discomfort and can provide a permanent solution. If persistent corn-related pain affects your life, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist. This foot doctor can assess the need for surgery or offer other treatment options as needed. 

Corns can make walking very painful and should be treated immediately. If you have questions regarding your feet and ankles, contact Charles Passet, DPM of Forest Hills. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Corns: What Are They? And How Do You Get Rid of Them?
Corns are thickened areas on the skin that can become painful. They are caused by excessive pressure and friction on the skin. Corns press into the deeper layers of the skin and are usually round in shape.

Ways to Prevent Corns
There are many ways to get rid of painful corns such as:

• Wearing properly fitting shoes that have been measured by a professional
• Wearing shoes that are not sharply pointed or have high heels
• Wearing only shoes that offer support

Treating Corns

Although most corns slowly disappear when the friction or pressure stops, this isn’t always the case. Consult with your podiatrist to determine the best treatment option for your case of corns.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Forest Hills, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Peripheral vascular disease, also known as PVD, is a prevalent issue, especially among diabetics. It affects over five million people each year and contributes to complications such as lower extremity wounds and amputations. Given its widespread incidence, obtaining an accurate diagnosis is critical for effective management and prevention of severe outcomes. There are non-invasive screening methods that podiatrists can incorporate into their initial patient evaluations, and they are deemed highly effective for identifying peripheral arterial diseases, particularly in at-risk populations. If you have PVD or lower extremity issues, it is strongly suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist for a comprehensive vascular assessment and treatment.

Vascular testing plays an important part in diagnosing disease like peripheral artery disease. If you have symptoms of peripheral artery disease, or diabetes, consult with Charles Passet, DPM from Forest Hills. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

What Is Vascular Testing?

Vascular testing checks for how well blood circulation is in the veins and arteries. This is most often done to determine and treat a patient for peripheral artery disease (PAD), stroke, and aneurysms. Podiatrists utilize vascular testing when a patient has symptoms of PAD or if they believe they might. If a patient has diabetes, a podiatrist may determine a vascular test to be prudent to check for poor blood circulation.

How Is it Conducted?

Most forms of vascular testing are non-invasive. Podiatrists will first conduct a visual inspection for any wounds, discoloration, and any abnormal signs prior to a vascular test.

 The most common tests include:

• Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) examination
• Doppler examination
• Pedal pulses

These tests are safe, painless, and easy to do. Once finished, the podiatrist can then provide a diagnosis and the best course for treatment.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Forest Hills, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Pressure on the foot causes 90 percent of foot sores in diabetic patients. To heal these sores, it is necessary to reduce the pressure. Offloading in the context of foot wounds refers to the process of reducing or redistributing pressure away from a specific area of the foot that has a wound or is at risk of developing one. By offloading, the affected area gets relief, which allows it to heal without being constantly subjected to pressure or friction. This is especially critical for individuals with diabetes, as they may have neuropathy and might not feel pain from a developing wound. Methods for offloading include using specialized footwear, casts, orthotics, and padding. The goal is to protect the wound, give it the best environment to heal, and prevent further complications. If you have diabetes and suffer from foot sores, it is strongly suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist who can evaluate your condition and make appropriate treatment recommendations.

Wound care is an important part in dealing with diabetes. If you have diabetes and a foot wound or would like more information about wound care for diabetics, consult with Charles Passet, DPM from Forest Hills. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

What Is Wound Care?

Wound care is the practice of taking proper care of a wound. This can range from the smallest to the largest of wounds. While everyone can benefit from proper wound care, it is much more important for diabetics. Diabetics often suffer from poor blood circulation which causes wounds to heal much slower than they would in a non-diabetic. 

What Is the Importance of Wound Care?

While it may not seem apparent with small ulcers on the foot, for diabetics, any size ulcer can become infected. Diabetics often also suffer from neuropathy, or nerve loss. This means they might not even feel when they have an ulcer on their foot. If the wound becomes severely infected, amputation may be necessary. Therefore, it is of the upmost importance to properly care for any and all foot wounds.

How to Care for Wounds

The best way to care for foot wounds is to prevent them. For diabetics, this means daily inspections of the feet for any signs of abnormalities or ulcers. It is also recommended to see a podiatrist several times a year for a foot inspection. If you do have an ulcer, run the wound under water to clear dirt from the wound; then apply antibiotic ointment to the wound and cover with a bandage. Bandages should be changed daily and keeping pressure off the wound is smart. It is advised to see a podiatrist, who can keep an eye on it.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Forest Hills, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Minimally invasive foot surgery, known as the keyhole approach, is an advanced method for addressing foot pain caused by abnormal anatomy. This technique utilizes specialized instruments for each condition, assisted by intraoperative imaging like X-rays and fluoroscopy. These tools allow surgeons to perform the surgery through small incisions, aiming to minimize damage to muscles and surrounding structures, possibly leading to faster recovery and reduced pain. Notably, minimally invasive foot surgery can often eliminate the need for pins and screws, which results in cost savings for patients and reduces the burden on healthcare systems while providing aesthetically pleasing results. The advantages of this type of surgery over traditional open foot surgery include smaller scars, reduced infection risk, and minimal blood loss. It also offers aesthetic benefits and allows immediate weight bearing. However, like any surgery, minimally invasive foot surgery carries risks, including infection, nerve injury, and potential complications related to general anesthesia. If you are suffering from chronic foot pain, it is suggested that you make an appointment with a podiatrist who can evaluate your case and see if you are a good candidate for this type of surgery.

Foot surgery is sometimes necessary to treat a foot ailment. To learn more, contact Charles Passet, DPM of Forest Hills. Our doctor will assist you with all of your foot and ankle needs.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to alleviate the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary include:

• Removing foot deformities like bunions and bone spurs
• Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues
• Cosmetic reconstruction

What Types of Surgery Are There?

The type of surgery you receive will depend on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:

• Bunionectomy for painful bunions
• Surgical fusion for realignment of bones
• Neuropathy decompression surgery to treat nerve damage

Benefits of Surgery

Although surgery is usually a last resort, it can provide more complete pain relief compared to non-surgical methods and may allow you to finally resume full activity.

Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated. Techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Forest Hills, NY . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.