Osteomyelitis (an infection of the bone) can be caused by a variety of microbial agents (bacteria, fungus), the most common of which is staphylococcus aureus. This serious infection can occur from a number of sources: It may enter bone through an injury, such as an open...
/conditions/osteomyelitis-(bone-infection)
1/10/2018 12:44:49 PM
What Is Osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is a condition characterized by the breakdown and eventual loss of cartilage in one or more joints. Cartilage (the connective tissue found at the end of the bones in the joints) protects and cushions the bones during movement. When ca...
/conditions/osteoarthritis-of-the-foot-and-ankle
1/10/2018 12:43:33 PM
What Is the Os Trigonum? The os trigonum is an extra (accessory) bone that sometimes develops behind the ankle bone (talus). It is connected to the talus by a fibrous band. The presence of an os trigonum in one or both feet is congenital (present at birth). It becomes evid...
/conditions/os-trigonum-syndrome
1/10/2018 12:43:04 PM
Custom orthotics are medical devices prescribed by a foot and ankle surgeon. These are different from shoe inserts and arch supports in that they have two functions. Orthotics can be used to accommodate or offload a prominent area. This can be helpful for bursitis, calluses...
/conditions/orthotics
1/10/2018 12:40:40 PM
Obesity is an ever-increasing problem in American society. Currently, up to one third of the U.S. population is considered obese, defined as a body mass index greater than 30. Although it seems obvious, many studies have found a direct link between increased BMI and foot prob...
/conditions/obesity-and-your-feet
1/10/2018 12:39:33 PM
What Is the Lisfranc Joint? The Lisfranc joint is the point at which the metatarsal bones (long bones that lead up to the toes) and the tarsal bones (bones in the arch) connect. The Lisfranc ligament is a tough band of tissue that joins two of these bones. This is importa...
/conditions/lisfranc-injuries
1/10/2018 12:33:11 PM
The running and side-to-side cutting in lacrosse are common causes of injuries to the foot and ankle. Lacrosse players should be aware of the following risks: Inversion ankle sprains can damage the ankle ligaments and can also be associated with peroneal tendon injur...
/conditions/lacrosse-injuries-to-the-foot-and-ankle
1/10/2018 12:31:46 PM
What Is an Ingrown Toenail? When a toenail is ingrown, it is curved and grows into the skin, usually at the nail borders (the sides of the nail). This digging in of the nail irritates the skin, often creating pain, redness, swelling and warmth in the toe. If an ingrown na...
/conditions/ingrown-toenail
1/10/2018 12:27:16 PM
What Is Hammertoe? Hammertoe is a contracture (bending) deformity of one or both joints of the second, third, fourth or fifth (little) toes. This abnormal bending can put pressure on the toe when wearing shoes, causing problems to develop. Hammertoes usually start out as...
/conditions/hammertoe
1/10/2018 12:22:33 PM
What Is Hallux Rigidus? Hallux rigidus is a disorder of the joint located at the base of the big toe. It causes pain and stiffness in the joint, and with time, it gets increasingly harder to bend the toe. Hallux refers to the big toe, while rigidus indicates that the ...
/conditions/hallux-rigidus
1/10/2018 12:22:14 PM
What Is Gout? Gout is a disorder that results from the buildup of uric acid in the tissues or a joint. It most often affects the joint of the big toe. Causes Gout attacks are caused by deposits of crystallized uric acid in the joint. Uric acid is present in the blood and...
/conditions/gout
1/10/2018 12:05:53 PM
Football players can receive injuries to the foot and ankle due to running, side-to-side cutting or from direct trauma, such as from another player during a tackle. They should be aware of the following risks: Inversion ankle sprains can damage the ankle ligaments and ...
/conditions/football-injuries-to-the-foot-and-ankle
1/10/2018 12:00:16 PM
Foot lumps are soft-tissue masses (not bone) that can occur anywhere on the foot. They can be caused by soft-tissue swelling, sacs of fluid, fatty tissue and nerve, vessel or muscle enlargements. Foot lumps may be without pain (asymptomatic), or they can cause pain and affect...
/conditions/foot-lumps
1/10/2018 11:55:24 AM
Foot drop refers to the inability to lift the front part of one’s foot off the ground when walking, resulting in a scuffing or dragging of the foot or lifting the thigh (known as steppage gait). It is most often caused by nerve or muscle disorders or damage or by a central ne...
/conditions/foot-drop
1/10/2018 11:53:00 AM
Foot bumps are bony projections that can occur anywhere on the foot. They can be a natural enlargement of a foot bone, or they can be an extra bone. They can be asymptomatic (without pain) or symptomatic (painful). If they are not painful, they can usually be accommodated by ...
/conditions/foot-bumps
1/10/2018 11:52:33 AM