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I just saw a 47 year old active female pt who has just returned from living in the U.S.A for several years. She went to a podiatrist there complaining of an interdigital corn, medial aspect of 5th ipj. The corn was very painfull and bothersome. While the podiatrist correctly advised her about digital bone surgery to correct the underlying problem,(which ashe did not want to do), he did not do anything else for her. He did not enucleate the corn, he did not advise about options of toe seperators,interdigital devices, silicone covers etc. He only advised her about corn plasters and bone surgery.

At his advice she used the corn plasters, only to get an infected and ulcerated toe (suprise suprise). When she eventually came to me today she was in severe pain, not knowing what to do and not wanting to do surgery. It took me all of 5 minutes to enucleate the corn, give advice re interdigital devices etc.

While I appreciate the importance of getting to the root of the problem and advising digital surgery for a common problem, not everyone will rush to do surgery, for whatever reason. Would it be so hard to take a few extra minutes to look at the finer details, to enucleate that corn and give more advice. And if you think it is "below you" to remove corns, then at least send the pt to someone who can do the job properly.

 

I agree with you.
I sometimes feel that the basics are neglected.

Thanks
Anthony