Jennifer Garner – Toe Deformity - The Texas Foot Specialists

Jennifer Garner, one of Hollywood’s popular celebrities has a physical foot deformity. One of her pictures shows that she has an overlapping toe in her right foot. The overlapping toe is a genetic condition wherein one of the five long bones of the foot is short. This condition is commonly known as brachymetatarsia.

What is brachymetatarsia?

Brachymetatarsia is referred is the presence of an overlapping toe and commonly involves the fourth metatarsal. It is also described as a floating toe. This genetic condition is a growth disturbance and not a defect present at birth. Brachymetatarsia can occur in one foot or both and may also affect people with Down syndrome.

What are the known causes of brachymetatarsia?

One of the most common causes of brachymetatarsia is genetic, but trauma is also a big part of it. Brachymetatarsia is a congenital condition that is most common in women than in men, which is attributed to the abnormal shortening of the metatarsal bone. To understand more about foot deformities, consult a podiatrist. Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with foot disorders.

Can this be prevented?

Since brachymetatarsia is hereditary or traumatic, it means that you are born with it or it is caused by a trauma. Getting early treatment may prevent the development of its symptoms.

What are the signs and symptoms of brachymetatarsia?

The following are some of the common reasons why people tend to seek treatment for brachymetatarsia:

• Difficulty in fitting shoes
• Walking activities interference
• Ball of the foot pain
• Feeling of embarassment
• Unsightly appearance
• Worsening problem

Is there a non-surgical treatment for brachymetatarsia?

In some cases, surgical grafting of the bone is an option. But there are also non-surgical treatment available. This treatment of brachymetatarsia depends on the severity and the nature of the affected bone. The following non-surgical treatment aims to reduce the symptoms of brachymetatarsia:

• Custom foot orthotics to support and align the foot. Orthotics also distributes the weight across the foot evenly.
• Activity modification
• Spot stretch shoes
• To prevent pressure in shoes, use splint or pads
• Make use of arch support
• Have shoes with wide toe box
• Wearing an appropriate and supportive shoes

Brachymetatarsia deformity is diagnosed using an x-ray and visual examination of the foot. A person suffering from brachymetatarsia can ask help from a doctor to find a treatment based on your unique situation.    

At The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston, we specialize in helping people with foot disorders.  To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Ashton Kutcher - Webbed Feet - The Texas Foot Specialists

Ashton Kutcher, one of Hollywood’s heartthrob also has a physical flaw. In an interview, he gamely shows off his webbed toes proving that not all celebrities in Hollywood are perfect. Some of them have flaws like Ashton.

What is the meaning of webbed toe?

A webbed toe affects 1 out of 2500 infants born. This kind of physical deformity is commonly known as syndactyly that usually occurs between the second and third toes. Syndactyly can be classified as simple or complex. When you say simple syndactyly, it is present at birth and the toes are only joined by soft tissues.

Complex syndactyly on the other hand is usually part of a syndrome and the toes are joined together by the bones or nails. Webbed toes or syndactyly is a failure of differentiation wherein toes fail to individually separate in its appendages. Consult a podiatrist for more information on webbed toes. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists   who specialize in helping people with foot disorders.

What are some of the causes of webbed toes?

Some people speculate that webbed toes are hereditary. It is also associated with the nutritional intake and smoking of a pregnant woman. The following conditions are associated with webbed toes:

• Aarskog-Scott syndrome
• Amniotic band syndrome
• Apert’s syndrome
• Berdet-Beidl syndrome
• Carpenter’s syndrome
• Cornelia de Lange syndrome
• Down syndrome
• Edward’s syndrome
• Familial syndactyly
• Fetal hydantoin effect
• Holt-Oram syndrome
• Miller syndrome
• Pfeiffer syndrome
• Poland syndrome
• Smith-Limli-Opitz syndrome
• Timothy syndrome

What are some ofthe signs and symptoms of webbed toes?

Webbed toes are visible at birth and also in utero while using a fetal ultrasound. At the sight of syndactyly, the doctor will refer you to a specialist that will guide you to a more detailed and specific treatment plan.

What is the possible treatment for webbed toes?

• Webbed toes can be treated as early as possible to separate the joined toes.
• Medical therapy. A surgical intervention in infants aged 5 to 6 months.
• Surgical therapy. If there are two or more toes are involved, a surgery is needed as early as possible.

How to prevent webbed toes?

Unfortunately, there is no known prevention for syndactyly as it is believed to be genetically passed from generation to generation. Hence, if a child is born with webbed toes, what the doctor will do is to immediately check for more signs to see if he has a more complex condition. In this case, an x-ray is needed to see whether the bones or the soft tissues are connected or not.

At The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston, we specialize in helping people with foot disorders.  To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Toenail Conditions and Prevention - The Texas Foot Specialists

Toenail care often take a backseat to fingernail care. This is because fingernails are more visible compared to its toe counterparts. Toenail care is disregarded since hiding imperfections can easily be done by wearing shoes.

Keeping out toenails healthy should never be taken lightly. Simple foot care can go a long way to keeping these looking great and healthy.  Visit a podiatrist to learn more about proper toenail care. Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with foot conditions.

Here are several tips on how to keep your toenails healthy and in a perfect condition.

• Eating healthy and Vitamin supplements
• Keratin is a protein which helps in keeping your nails healthy. This is why you should take proteins to keep your nails healthy and brittle free. Good sources of protein are dairy products, beans, lean meat and eggs.
• Calcium is also essential in maintaining your nail’s health. Calcium found in milk, cheese and yogurt can do the trick.
• Vitamin A supplements and supplemental biotin will also help big time. Biotin helps increase your nail thickness and prevents it from cracking and breaking easily.

Wearing of correct shoes and socks.

Wear your shoes alternately and keep them dry. This helps prevent bacterial and fungal infection. When buying shoes, make sure that it fits correctly without touching or banging on your toenails. This can cramp your toes.

For socks, avoid wearing socks made of polyester or nylon. This prevents sweat from airing out and may cause bad odor to your feet. Instead, choose socks made from natural fibers such as wool. Proper ventilation keeps your toenails healthy.

Toenails and Health Disorders

Unhealthy nails are usually caused by external factors such as infection, improper trimming and pedicure. If you notice unusual signs on your nails this might be a result of an underlying medical condition that you need to check with your doctor.

• Pale nail beds – anemia
• Yellowish nails with a blush on the base – diabetes
• White nails – liver problem
• Sluggish growth, thickening and yellowing of nails – lung disorder

The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston, we specialize in helping people with Toenail disorders. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Foot Gout, Management and Medication

Studies have shown that a tenth of the population is currently suffering from hyperuricemia, a leading cause of gout. And most cases of hyperuricemia are found in men. Foot gout causes pain which in some cases interfere with our normal daily activities. Consult a podiatrist when foot gout becomes a nagging problem Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specialize in foot gout and treating foot disorders.

Foot Gout Management

• If an acute attack occurs- protect the affected joint. Elevate it and immobilize.
• Consume less amount of food containing purine.
• Have moderate alcohol intake
• Include a small amount of legumes in the diet
• Encourage a gradual weight reduction-  this will reduce the pressure on the inflamed joints, resulting to lesser pain
• Avoid salicylates – this could affect elimination of uric acid.
• Increase fluid intake- by increasing the amount of fluid in the body, the excretion of uric acid also increases thus preventing the formation of uric acid stones.

Foot Gout Medications

There are many different medications used for foot gout. Self-medication is highly discouraged. Consult a podiatrist for proper treatment and management of foot gout. Below are some of the medications that may be used.

• Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs or NSAIDs (e.g. naproxen, indomethacin) to decrease joint pain and inflammation.
• Colchicine prevents deposition of uric acid into the joints, decreasing the inflammation. This can be given during acute attack.
• Allopurinol (e.g. Zyloprim) use as maintenance medication, decrease uric acid production. Clients with renal insufficiency or kidney problems should be inform that intake of this drug must be in a small amount only.
• Glucocorticoids or corticotropin (ACTH) this may be injected directly to the inflamed joints.  Suitable for patients with abnormal creatinine clearance, though its immunosuppressive effect might be questionable since this may prone the inflamed joints to infection.
• Febuxostat is a non-purine inhibitor of xanthine oxidase. It is hoped to avoid the serious but rare complications of allopurinol; whether that holds true will take years to establish.
• Uricosuric drugs inhibits urate anion reabsorption in the proximal tubule and enhance uric acid elimination.
• Probenecid – to increase the serum levels of antibiotics and it blocks with excretion of many drugs.
•  Benzbromarone- can’t be used in Switzerland and the USA, this drug is the only one registered and permitted to be use in Austria. Side effects are gastrointestinal symptoms, especially diarrhea. This has some effect on the liver that resulted in taking it out of the market.
•  Sulfinpyrazone- the third drug that was used in the past, but was later discontinued.

Self-medication is highly discouraged as this might result to dangerous complication. Consult a podiatrist for proper foot gout treatment.    The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston we specialize in helping people with foot gout.  To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Understanding Webbed Toes - The Texas Foot Specialists

Webbed toes is a medical condition described as the fusing of two or more toes that is seen at birth. It is not acquired or developed but can be traced to developmental factors during pregnancy. Cases of syndactyly (webbed toes and fingers) happen in one out of 2,500 to 3,000 births. And commonly occurs in the second and third toes.

What Causes Webbed Toes?

Webbed toes is normal and can be seen during the early stages of pregnancy. But as the fetus develops, an enzyme dissolves tissues connecting the digits to give toes and fingers its normal appearance. In cases of webbed toes, this does not happen and the fetus develops without the toes being completely separated.

The exact cause of webbed toes remains unknown. Some studies have shown that people with a family history of webbed feet have a higher tendency to develop the condition but this remains inconclusive. Webbed toes can also be related to genetic defects or symptoms of an underlying disease.

Classification/ Types of Syndactyly

• Webbed toes or fingers could be classified according to how the digits are fused together.
• Simple – this refers to toes joined by soft tissue
• Simple incomplete – a soft tissue that does not run the complete length of the toes
• Simple complete – the toes are joined by soft tissue running the complete length of the toes
• Complex – these are fused toes connected by bones or cartilage
• The most severe case of webbed toes are toes fused together by bones and cartilages with no clear pattern. This may also include the appearance of extra digits.

Symptoms and how it affects you

Webbed toes do not usually cause pain and does not have an adverse effect on the foot’s normal functioning. In some cases however, it can make wearing shoes difficult. It can also affect a person’s self-esteem because of the toe deformity.

Treating Webbed Toes

Surgery remains to be the only treatment option for those born with webbed toes. This is usually performed at 6 month to 2 years. The type of surgery performed depends on the severity of the condition. Simple syndactyly or toes connected by soft tissues only require minor surgery to separate the toes. However, webbed toes classified as complex require highly specialized surgery that can run for multiple sessions.  Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specialize in treating toe deformities.

The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston we specialize in helping people with webbed toes and other foot disorders.   To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

The Joys and Pain of Ballet Dancing, Trigger Toes Explained

Dancing and ballet in particular is an activity that demands great physical strength in the feet and toes. Ballet dancers often have to support their weight only using their toes for long periods of time.  When you’ve got the whole force of your body pressing against a single point then toe injury is just around the corner.

“En pointe” or standing on your toes is a discipline required by ballet dancers. When pressure is concentrated on the big toe, it can injure the flexor hallucis longus muscle which is responsible for flexing the big toe.

Do you have trigger toe?

Although trigger toe is a foot condition commonly found among ballet dancers, it is also a condition found in non-ballet dancers. As long as the conditions for developing a trigger toe is met, almost anyone can suffer from the condition.

Symptoms of trigger toe include pain that is usually mild at first and steadily worsens as the condition progresses. For ballet dancers, pain is triggered when performing the en pointe position and is immediately relieved through rest or when weight is taken off the feet.

People suffering from a trigger toe may experience a clicking sensation when moving the toes. Sometimes it may be necessary for you to use your hands to move or flex the big toe.  

A visit to a podiatrist is recommended when the first signs of a trigger toe is observed. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specializes in helping people with trigger toes.

Treatment and Management

Treatment options may differ according to the severity of the condition. An ice pack can be used to reduce pain and swelling.

Conservative treatments can include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) for immediate relief of inflammation.

Foot strengthening exercises can also be used before a dancer proceeds into more complex steps such as the en pointe position. This is to strengthen the arch and decrease the pressure on the big toe.

Sometimes a weight management program is advised to reduce the weight load on the feet.

For severe cases, surgery is recommended for releasing the tendon and restore normal functioning. 

Cases of trigger toes are rare especially for those who don’t engage in ballet. However, trigger toes will always be a huge concern for ballet dancers. The chances for a full recovery is high and ballet dancers with a history of trigger toes can resume their career.

At The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston we specialize in helping people with trigger toes.  To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Proper Care for Keeping your Toes Healthy

Toes are usually hidden from sight by shoes. But for those times when it does come into view, keeping them clean and healthy is a must. Pedicures is a simple way of keeping our toes looking great. But if this is done to hide an imperfection then it is detrimental to your toe’s health.

Keeping the toes healthy is an essential part of foot care. Without it, it increases our risks for toenail conditions. Consult a podiatrist if you notice any toe deformity. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specializes in helping people with foot conditions.

Here are a few tips for keeping your toenails healthy.

Eat a well-balanced diet. Eating healthy does not only work wonders on your figure. It too can help your toenails looking great and healthy. A well-balanced diet is important for maintaining the recommended levels of keratin. Low levels of this protein can cause your nails to become brittle and ugly. Eat foods that are rich in Keratin which includes green leafy vegetables, beans and nuts among others.

Trim your toenails regularly. Toenails should be trimmed straight across. Don’t go overboard by cutting into the sides of the toenails. This is to prevent the development of ingrown toenails. Apply a mild antiseptic foot powder after every trimming and give it a gentle massage. This helps limit bacterial growth. Massaging your feet will also help promote proper blood circulation to your toes.

Use correct fitting socks and shoes. This is important especially in children whose nails and feet are still developing. Use socks made from natural fiber such as cotton and make sure that the shoes you are wearing fit correctly. The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston we specialize in helping people with foot disorders.To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.