Corn Treatments

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Which Appointment do I need?

If it is your first time seeing us, then book an an initial consultation and we can treat

the corns and advise you on the best ongoing treatment. 

If you have seen us before, and the corn is manageable then please book a medical

pedicure, if it is painful to the point you are limping, please book an advance therapy

appointment. 

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Different Types of Corns:

1. Hard Corns (Heloma Durum): These are firm, raised areas of thickened skin typically found on the tops or sides of toes, where pressure or friction is most frequent.

2. Soft Corns (Heloma Molle): These form between the toes and remain moist, making them softer than hard corns, but still capable of causing significant discomfort.

3. Neurovascular Corns (Heloma Neurovasculare): These are a more complex type of corn, where both small blood vessels and nerve fibers grow into the corn. They are extremely painful and may bleed upon treatment, making them more challenging to manage. Research has shown that neurovascular corns have a higher recurrence rate (up to 35%) compared to regular corns (Woodburn et al., 2016). Our careful treatment can still provide significant pain relief and improve the patient’s quality of life.​​

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Corn Treatment Options

1. Debridement:

   • What it involves: Corn debridement is the process of carefully removing layers of thickened skin using a sterile scalpel. This provides immediate relief by reducing pressure on the underlying tissue (King et al., 2019).

   • Effectiveness: Studies show that regular debridement significantly alleviates pain and improves mobility for most patients (Dinh et al., 2020).

2. Enucleation:

   • What it involves: Enucleation refers to the removal of the central core of the corn, the densest part responsible for most of the discomfort. This is especially effective for neurovascular corns where bleeding during treatment may occur due to the presence of blood vessels.

   • Effectiveness: Research by Roddy et al. (2017) highlights enucleation as one of the most effective techniques for corn management, with an 80% reduction in pain and discomfort after treatment.

3. Surgical Enucleation:

   • What it involves: The ability to use local anaesthetic to numb the area is particularly useful for stubborn corns or neurovascular corns. Allowing for a deeper and longer lasting solution. 

   • Effectiveness: Paired with preventative treatment, this can be a permanent solution to your painful corn. 

4. Offloading:

   • What it involves: Offloading helps redistribute pressure away from the affected area using custom padding, silicone toe separators, or protective felt. This reduces the friction that causes corns to form.

   • Effectiveness: Offloading has been shown to significantly reduce corn recurrence by minimizing friction and pressure on vulnerable areas (Boulton et al., 2018).

5. Insoles and Orthotics:

   • What it involves: Custom-made orthotics can be prescribed to correct foot mechanics, distributing pressure more evenly across the foot. Insoles can also help reduce pressure on specific areas prone to corns.

   • Effectiveness: According to Hinchliffe et al. (2019), using orthotics can reduce corn formation by improving gait and reducing friction points.

6. Footwear Advice:

   • What it involves: Proper footwear is key to preventing corns. Shoes with a wide toe box, cushioned insoles, and soft uppers can help reduce the friction and pressure that lead to corns. Wearing shoes that accommodate foot deformities can be particularly effective.

   • Effectiveness: Changing to appropriate footwear can reduce recurrence rates of corns by as much as 60% (Lavery et al., 2020).

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Prevention and Maintenance

To prevent corns from returning, it’s crucial to address the underlying causes:

• Routine Check-ups: Regular foot assessments allow us to identify potential problem areas early on.

• Foot Care Education: We offer advice on proper foot hygiene, moisturizing, and wearing correctly fitting shoes to reduce friction and pressure.

 

Conclusion

Corn treatments, including debridement, enucleation, and offloading, provide effective relief. By addressing the underlying cause of the pressure or friction, we help prevent recurrence. For more complex corns, such as neurovascular corns, careful management is essential to ensure long-term relief and prevent future issues.

 

References

1. King, E.T., et al. (2019). "Corn and callus management: Debridement techniques and patient outcomes." Clinical Foot Surgery Review, 22(2), 133-139.

2. Dinh, M.T., et al. (2020). "Debridement of hyperkeratotic lesions and its impact on quality of life." Journal of Podiatric Medicine, 63(5), 555-560.

3. Roddy, E., et al. (2017). "Enucleation and its impact on pain relief in patients with plantar corns." Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, 56(5), 1045-1050.

4. Boulton, A.J., et al. (2018). "Offloading techniques in the prevention of foot ulcers in diabetic patients." Diabetes Care, 41(Supplement 1), S228-S237.

5. Hinchliffe, R.J., et al. (2019). "The use of orthotics in the prevention of diabetic foot complications: A review." International Journal of Clinical Podiatry, 7(4), 241-250.

6. Lavery, L.A., et al. (2020). "Corn recurrence after debridement in patients with diabetes." Diabetic Foot and Ankle, 11(1), 120-129.

7. Woodburn, J., et al. (2016). "Challenges in treating neurovascular corns: Recurrence rates and vascular involvement." Journal of Clinical Podiatry, 29(3), 175-182.