Help! Is A Curled Fifth Toe Normal?
Adductovarus is the medical term for a curled (or crooked toe). Having a curled toe just means the toe tries to curl up under your other toes. This is most commonly seen in the fourth or fifth toe on a human foot. The question is – what can you do if you realize you have a curled fifth toe?
Conservative Treatments
Taping up your curled toe is the quickest and easiest way to fix the problem. Unfortunately, this is not a permanent fix as your toe will curl back up when you take off the tape. While the tape is on your toe, the de-rotation of the toe is going to allow less pressure as your toe will no longer be pressed against the inside of your shoe and tucked under your other toes.
You can also purchase a gel pad to relieve some of the symptoms a curled toe can cause such as irritation and pain. Wearing a wider shoe (or widening the shoes you have) is another great option as it will give your curled toe more room inside of the shoe.
Purchasing a toe box widener and installing it inside of your shoe is another option. A toe box widener is ideal as it will widen your current shoes and prevent the need to purchase a whole new collection of wider shoes.
Surgical Treatment
If you are sick of accommodating your curled toe or tired of the pain and irritation it causes, surgery is the next best choice. A derotational arthroplasty is the name of the surgical procedure a podiatrist will normally recommend to fix a curled fifth toe. The procedure involves the surgeon making a small incision at the top of the fifth toe in order to remove a small portion of your toe's bone. After the bone is removed, the soft tissue is used to de-rotate the toe and place it in a normal position. This type of surgery is extremely effective, but will only be considered after conservative treatments are fully explored.
Complications
The only real complication you have to worry about after having surgery to fix your curled toe is swelling. Swelling, however, is a normal side effect following any surgery. Elevating the foot and taking pain medication – such as ibuprofen – can help decrease the swelling.
Having a curled (or crooked) toe not only makes your foot look funny, but it could be causing you a great deal of foot pain. Fortunately, between conservative and surgical treatments, you should be able to get the problem resolved.
For more information, contact professionals like Elmhurst Podiatry Center Ltd.