Toronto foot specialist lectures at the Ontario Podiatric Medical Association annual conference

On October 19-21, I attended the annual Ontario Podiatric Medical Association scientific conference, along with podiatrists from all over Ontario as well as Canada and the United States.

On Sunday October 21, I had the honour of presenting a lecture on minimally invasive surgery for Tailors' Bunions or Bunionettes to the attendees.

A tailor’s bunion is an enlargement on the side of the foot behind the fifth toe. It can cause difficulty in wearing shoes comfortably and can be unattractive to look at.

I explained that tailor’s bunions can be treated with minimally invasive foot surgery, in an office setting with local anesthetic.

Podiatrists have developed specialized instrument that let us work through small openings in the skin so there is much less soft tissue trauma compared to conventional, hospital surgery.  This results, in most cases, in much less postoperative pain and swelling. In fact most of my patients who have surgery for tailors bunions, or bunionettes, take nothing stronger than Aspirin Tylenol, or Ibuprofen following the procedure. Patients can walk on the foot immediately. It is not necessary to use casts or crutches. I explained that I use an adhesive tape dressing for five weeks to help maintain correction. I then see patients several times post operatively, to make sure their feet are healing appropriately.

I also attended lectures which included topical treatments for onychomycosis, or toenail fungus as well as a presentation on a low level laser for the treatment of various acute and chronic foot conditions. The presenter indicated that the laser can accelerate cellular reproduction and growth, lead to faster wound healing, increase the metabolic activity of cells and reduce the formation of scar tissue, reduce inflammation, stimulate nerve function and increase vascular activity. In fact, the laser sounded remarkably similar to the one that I use in my office. I often use my laser for the treatment of arch pain, heel pain, or plantar fasciitis, combined with a sound wave treatment called radial wave or pressure wave.

If you, or someone you know, suffer from problems such as tailor’s bunions, heel pain, arch pain, plantar fasciitis, or other foot problems, please call my office at 416-486-9917. My friendly staff will set up an appointment for you to see me so that you can get relief as quickly as possible.