A broken bone, also referred to as a “fracture,” can occur in any bone and at any age. Stress fractures are the least serious and occur when there is a crack in the outer shell of the bone. Most fractures are more serious and occur when the bone completely breaks into two pieces. Comminuted fractures are the most severe – the bone is shattered into several fragments. Many people mistake the fracture for a sprain or strain because of their ability to continue walking or if symptoms are minimal. If you are experience pain, swelling or bruising, you should seek medical attention immediately to prevent further complications, even if you are able to walk. Here, at Affiliated Podiatrists, our doctors’ diagnostic skills have been enhanced through the use of digital x-rays taken right here on our premises. Digital x-rays allow us to magnify images and tweak contrast to help in our reading of images and therefore, speed your healing.

Did you know Babe Ruth intentionally ran the bases pigeon-toed because he believed it helped him run faster? Did you know Paris Hilton has mastered a pigeon toed photo stance to hide her size 11 feet? The term pigeon toed (medically known as in-toeing) is used to describe when a person points their toes inward while standing or walking.

Symptoms of Pigeon Toe

• Feet point inward, as if the toes are touching
• Stumbling (severe cases)
• Clumsiness

Alternate Names

In-toeing; false clubfoot; in-toe gait; metatarsus adductus; metatarsus varus;

What Causes Pigeon Toe?

Pigeon toe is caused by one of three conditions: Metatarsus adductus, tibial torsion, or femoral anteversion. Each condition is based on its location: the foot, the knee or the hip.

Can Pigeon Toe Be Treated?

In most cases, the infant or child will grow out of the condition and no treatment is necessary. Still it  should be evaluated. The doctors of Affiliated Podiatrists, Ltd can offer diagnosis, assessment and initiate treatment if necessary.

Smelly feet are the result of sweat mixed with bacteria. Sweat by itself does not stink. But when bacteria are introduced to the socks and shoes, it sticks to them. Eventually the smelly sweat sticks to the skin on the feet, causing a foul odor.

The two ways to cure and prevent smelly feet are to reduce the bacteria and reduce sweat.

We at Affiliated Podiatrists recommend:

• Wash your feet daily with antibacterial soap and warm water.
• Always wear fresh synthetic socks.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Use a disinfecting spray in your shoes or use an electric shoe sanitizer.  (ie:SteriShoe ^TM)
• Keep your feet as dry as possible.
• Change your footwear to ensure the material allows your feet to breathe.
• Sprinkle baking soda in your shoes to kill bacteria.
• Odor eaters and powder to your feet.
• If your shoes stink, don’t wear them.

 

Have you ever suffered the pain of an ingrown toenail? Are you aware that most people with ingrown toenails develop an infection? An ingrown toenail develops when the corner or side of one of your toenails grows into the skin. Most commonly it affects the great toe.

Knowing the common causes can help in prevention. You should cut your toenails straight across, and not too short. Your shoes should not squeeze your feet and there should be enough room to wiggle your toes.

The principal treatment is removal of the offending nail margin which is cutting into the skin. This is performed in the office during a regular office appointment. Sometimes a local anesthetic may be necessary. Afterwards, you may be prescribed a medication to soak your foot in and antibiotics to take by mouth.

 A middle-aged man came in for a check-up. He mentioned that he had a sore on his third toe, which healed on its own. The dry scab visible was not of concern to me.

    Three weeks later, he returned to the office for an unrelated issue.  I looked at the toe again. This time I saw a bump which looked like it was about to explode; not a huge bump, but the skin was clearly stretched and tense. I told him: “This looks like a ganglion cyst.” And it was. Here are the details:

    Ganglionic cysts are non-cancerous fluid or gel-filled lumps which most commonly arise from tendons or joints. They may develop suddenly. These cysts are usually painless except when they put pressure on a nerve or restrict motion at a joint. The initial treatment usually consists of removing the fluid from within it. Surgical excision of the cyst may be required if it recurs after aspiration.

    Please don’t try the “home remedy” of smashing the cyst with a heavy object. This can damage surrounding structures in your foot. Also, don't try to "pop" the cyst by puncturing it with a needle or sharp object. This is unlikely to be effective and can lead to infection. Call us.