Some foot conditions are rare, hard to diagnose and treat, and can cause serious damage to the foot. Most rare conditions share symptoms with common foot problems, and it’s always best to visit a foot doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
What Is a Rare Foot Disorder?
A rare foot condition is a disease that impacts only a few people in a population. These disorders are difficult to catch and easy to misdiagnose due to the mixed symptoms. Rare foot disorders can cause chronic pain, mobility issues, and deformity. While these conditions aren’t contagious, they can be inheritable.
Rare Foot Diseases to Know
Accurate diagnosis of rare foot conditions is beneficial for necessary treatment and care. It prevents lifelong consequences such as deformity. The following are three unusual foot conditions that exist:
Freiberg’s Disease
This rare foot condition normally affects the second or third metatarsal bones. This condition causes these bones to flatten and lose their normal round, smooth shape. While Frieberg’s disease can affect everyone, it’s more prevalent in girls in their teens or early adulthood.
Signs and Symptoms
Individuals suffering from this disease experience pain, swelling, and stiffness around the affected toe. This pain can worsen with various activities such as walking, jogging, dancing, or running. Wearing high-heeled shoes can trigger pain. The affected person’s forefoot may feel tender and have a limited range of motion.
In most cases, these symptoms can improve with rest. As the disorder advances, the discomfort and pain become more severe.
Diagnosis
A foot doctor use X-rays to diagnose Frieberg’s condition. The diagnostic images show the condition of the metatarsal bone for confirmation. During the early stages, X-rays might not give accurate results hence the need to use MRI.
Treatment
Treatment for Frieberg’s condition can either be operative or non-operative. The non-operative treatment involves taking anti-inflammatory or painkillers to reduce pain. Activity limitations can help to reduce symptoms. Wearing specially designed shoes or padded insoles may reduce pressure on the affected toes.
If the condition has progressed, surgery may be necessary to relieve pain.
Maffucci Syndrome
Maffucci syndrome is an extremely rare condition affecting the skin and bones. This disorder is characterized by multiple benign tumors in the cartilage (enchondromas). These growths can cause severe bone deformation and make bones more susceptible to fractures.
Individuals with this condition are at an increased risk of various cancers. These include ovarian, liver, and bone cartilage cancers.
Signs and Symptoms
Maffucci syndrome is most common in young children. The condition is rarely detected at birth, but symptoms can become apparent in the first years. Enchondromas will develop near the ends of the bones, causing them to bulge and stop growing. People with this syndrome may have short stature.
Patients with Maffucci syndrome develop vascular lesions on the skin. In most cases, these lesions don’t occur near areas with enchondromas.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis involves a thorough medical history and physical exam. Radiologic assessments such as X-rays can help confirm the case.
Treatment
Treatment of Maffucci syndrome focuses on the apparent signs and symptoms of the patient. If a patient is asymptomatic, treatment is unnecessary.
Kohler’s Disease
Kohler’s disease is a rare foot condition that occurs due to the compression of the tarsal navicular bone during a child’s early development. The tarsal navicular bone is at the arch of the foot. The disease is most common in children and affects boys more than girls. This disease typically affects a single foot.
Signs and Symptoms
Patients with Kohler’s disease have redness, swelling, and tenderness on the affected foot. The foot is painful and makes the patient limp. These signs and symptoms are mild but persist for a long time.
Diagnosis
Kohler’s disease is suspected if a child has the above signs and symptoms. Radiographs showing flattening and sclerosis of the navicular bone confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
Kohler’s disease resolves with time whether the patient receives treatment or not. Treatment may include pain killers and the use of special shoes for support. Reducing the activity of the affected foot can aid with recovery.
Visit a Foot Doctor
Rare foot conditions can have lasting consequences on the patient. If you or your child have any symptoms indicating foot problems, visit a foot doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
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