Yao Ming Retires due to foot injuries
Subungual Hematoma
Subungual Hematoma – This is a collection or pooling of blood underneath the nail plate. It is usually associated with blunt trauma such as dropping an object directly onto the toe. As blood collects underneath the nail plate, pressure increases. This increase in pressure is painful unless the blood is drained.
It is noted that if more than 25% of the nail plate has blood underneath it, the toenail should be removed to examine for laceration of the nail bed or the skin underneath the nail. If the nail bed is lacerated, it must be appropriately cleaned, disinfected, and sutured.
If the hematoma is less than 25% of nail plate involvement, the blood can then be drained and the nail plate left intact. This is performed in our office with either a hand-held cautery tool or a sharp blade to bore a hole into the nail plate and allow the blood to escape.
If you develop a subungual hematoma, please seek assistance from our physicians. Call 972-542-2155 for an appointment today.
Dr. Eric Silvers is a highly-trained foot and ankle surgeon specializing in the treatment and resolution of toenail pathologies.
He has offices located in McKinney, TX & Prosper, TX.
Please call 972-542-2155 to schedule an appointment today
Infracalcaneal Exostosis
An infracalcaneal exostosis is a term that describes a large bony prominence or spur on the bottom of the heel bone or calcaneus. In some patients, this bone spur can actually be large enough to be felt on the bottom of the heel.
The bone spur is caused by traction or pulling on the heel bone or calcaneus by tiny muscles on the bottom of the foot. Many people correlate “heel spurs” with plantar fasciitis. This is a false statement. The plantar fascia in actuality, inserts just lateral to the plantar heel spur.
Most patients have 1 – 1.5 inches of fat pad on the bottom of the heel that aids in cushioning and shock absorption for the calcaneus. In older patients who have experienced atrophy or thinning of the fat pad, the bone spur can be prominent and very painful.
Treatment includes cushioning of the infracalcaneal exostosis, wearing appropriate shoe gear to soften the impact of the heel with walking or running.
For those patient who cannot find relief cushioning, padding or shoe therapy, surgery is a viable option. Surgery involves removing the plantar heel spur or infracalcaneal exostosis and making the bottom surface of the heel bone flat and smooth. A extended period of non-weightbearing is suggested due to possible risk of stress fracture with early weight bearing following the surgery.
If you have a prominent heel spur on the bottom of the heel, please visit our office for a clinical evaluation. Call 972-542-2155 for an appointment today.
Traumatic Heel Pain
If you have had trauma to the heel, please click on the following link to read more:
Traumatic Heel Pain
Neurologic Heel Pain
Please click the following link to read about the various causes of heel pain caused by nerve disorders.
Neurologic Heel Pain
Mechanical Heel Pain
Please click the following link to learn about the various types of mechanical heel pain:
