Bone Spurs

Bone spurs are very common, and fortunately, most are not painful. In fact, many people have bone spurs and don’t know it until they appear on an X-ray.

Bone spurs are tiny bony projections that develop in joints in response to heavy pressure or stress. The spur is your body reacting to the pressure by building up extra bone for protection. Bone spurs tend to be worsened by arthritis because they can develop in joints where cartilage is lost over time. They can also develop due to increased pressure on the joints due to muscle imbalances, muscle tightness, rigorous activity, being overweight and even from inadequate shoes. Conditions like plantar fasciitis can cause spurs to form in your heel when the body tries to heal itself from the tightened plantar fascia muscle. Bone spurs can develop in your foot, knee, hip, shoulder, fingers and even your spine.

Some bone spurs can be extremely painful and even limit the mobility of the joint and affect your daily life.

The good news is that early treatment can help prevent or slow further damage. If you are experiencing joint pain that may be the result of a bone spur, schedule a consult with an orthopaedic specialist who can evaluate your condition and make recommendations. Piedmont physicians offer a variety of different solutions for your unique goals and lifestyle. Most cases of bone spurs are treated with a mix of non-surgical methods such as rest, NSAIDs, targeted stretching and exercises, orthotics or padding, and sometimes injections. Particularly bad cases may need to be surgically removed.

Minimally Invasive Bone Spur Removal - Toe

Toe bone spur removal is a quick procedure that may be performed in the doctor's office or in the hospital.

Each patient experience is unique, here is a general idea of what you can expect with a :

Incision

After an injection of a local anesthetic to numb the area, a small incision is made over the spur.

Spur Removal

The spur is removed with a rasp or power burr.

Additional Treatment

Depending on where the spur is or the presence of other conditions, additional treatment may be required.

Toenail Removal

If the spur is on the outside of the toe near the nail, a small portion of the toenail may have to be removed.

Tendon Release

If the toe on which the spur is located has a curvature, that curvature may have caused the spur. An additional incision may be needed to cut, or release, the tendon attached to the bottom of the toe. This relieves the inward pull on the toe.

Bone Removal

When the spur is on the inside of the fifth toe, there may be a corn between the fourth and fifth toes. If so, the top of the bone is cut and removed to prevent the toes from rubbing against each other.

End of Procedure/After Care

The incision is closed with one or two stitches and covered with a small bandage. The patient can walk immediately, wearing a post-operative or wide-fitting shoe.

Learn more

To learn more about your condition, schedule a consult with one of our foot and ankle specialists. Click here or give us a call at (478) 474-2114 to get started.