A tailor’s bunion is also called a bunionette. It is a bump on the 5th metatarsal bone at the base of the baby toe. Tailor’s bunions are not as common as bunions on the big toe, but they are similar in symptoms and causes. These small bunions were named because centuries ago tailors used to sit cross-legged all day, with the outside edge of their feet rubbing against the ground. The constant rubbing led to a painful bump at the base of the little toe. A tailor’s bunion may be from an inherited faulty mechanical foot structure. The 5th metatarsal bone starts to protrude outward while the baby toe moves inward. Sometimes a bunionette is a bony spur or outgrowth of bone on the side of the 5th metatarsal head. This condition is aggravated when shoes have narrow toe boxes and constantly rub against the tailor’s bunion. Symptoms include redness, swelling, and pain at the site of the bump. If you have a bump on your baby toe, consult with a chiropodist who can determine its cause and provide treatment options.

Bunions progressively worsen over time and may cause walking in your shoes to become difficult. To learn more about bunions, please consult with Chiropodist Stephanie Poupore from North Bay Foot & Ankle. Our clinician will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment. 

What Are Bunions? 

A bunion is a bony bump that protrudes from the base of the big toe. Bunions are caused due to a misalignment of the first metatarsal. The characteristic bump of a bunion forms when the metatarsal shifts outwards from its proper position. Bunions develop slowly over time and progressively worsen without treatment. The skin over the bunion may develop calluses due to the friction from shoes. Eventually, a bunion can make walking uncomfortable or even painful. Bunions are one of the most common foot deformities and are especially common in women and older adults.

Symptoms

A bunion appears as a bulging bump on the outside of the base of the big toe.

The bunion may also: 

• Be swollen, red, or sore 

• Develop corns or calluses over it

• Cause pain

• Limit the big toe’s range of motion

Treatment

There are several different treatments available for bunions. Conservative treatment options include wearing shoes with a wider toe box, cushioning the bunion with a specialized pad, wearing shoe inserts, icing the bunion if it becomes inflamed, and taking medications to relieve pain. In more severe cases, more invasive procedures may be done. This may involve removing the swollen tissue around the bunion, straightening the big toe, realigning the bones at the front of the foot, or a combination of these procedures. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs