Tailor’s bunion, also known as a bunionette, is a bony prominence or bump on the base of the little fifth toe bone that can be painful and be difficult fitting into shoes. These little bunions are historically called tailor’s bunion due to the fact that in the past they often happened in tailors who sat cross-legged on hard surfaces for a long periods of time causing pressure on the outside aspect of the tailors’ feet.
Some symptoms of a tailor’s bunion are pain that is exacerbated by shoe gear, redness, swelling on the outside of the feet, and/or callous formation. A major risk factor is improper fitted shoe gear that is too tight and causes the fifth toe to be held in an inappropriate position.
The following are conservative treatments for Tailor’s bunions, which may involve:
- Change of shoe gear and avoid tight shoes
- Icing and NSAIDs
- Orthotics
- Padding such as bunionette pads or toe spacers
- Corticosteroid injection to reduce inflammation
Most of these treatments will help provide pain relief however when all conservative treatments have failed, your podiatrist may then recommend surgical options especially if your tailor’s bunion is more prominent. The surgery is a common procedure of removing a wedge of bone from the lateral prominent 5th metatarsal bone bump. Call your podiatrist today to best treat your tailor’s bunion and prevent it from getting worse.
Please visit our website for more information or call 614-885-3338 (FEET) to schedule an appointment with us at our Columbus or Gahanna office
