What is a Tailor’s bunion?
A Tailor’s bunion, also commonly known as a bunionette, is a bony enlargement, or bump, that forms on the foot. A Tailor’s bunion is like a traditional bunion, which forms on the inside of the foot at the base of the big toe, except it’s located at the base of the pinky toe on the outside of the foot.
What are causes and symptoms of a Tailor’s bunion?
A Tailor’s bunion can be painful and is often the result of wearing ill-fitting shoes that are too tight or narrow. These bunions can also be the result of an inherited foot structure, or certain foot conditions like arthritis.
How are Tailor’s bunions diagnosed and treated?
Diagnosing a Tailor’s bunion can be done quite easily. Your doctor will do an examination and, upon visual inspection of the affected area, confirm the formation of a Tailor’s bunion.
Treatment for a Tailor’s bunion often includes:
- Wearing wider shoes to allow more space for the natural curvature of the foot in addition to shoes with a wider toe box to further alleviate pain and pressure on the bunionette
- Padding or orthotic inserts, which can help cushion the bunionette and provide further support to the foot
- Icing and resting to further reduce inflammation and pain
- Over-the-counter pain relief medications that work to reduce the pain and swelling associated with a Tailor’s bunion.
In more severe cases where conservative treatments do not provide relief, surgery may be recommended to correct the bunionette. The procedure that surgeons typically use to correct a Tailor’s bunion involves removing the bony bump, realigning the bones in the foot, and repairing the soft tissues around the joint.