Haglunds Deformity
This is a condition that is characterized by protrusion of upper posterolaterol calcaneum. The affected area would in many cases feel painful, and many a times delibilitating might be experienced on the back heel.
The effect is more pronounced on the Achilles tendon insertion at the back of the heel. Many of the people who suffer from this condition are probably women aged between the ages of 15 to 35 years.
If you analyze this age group well, you will realize that most ladies within this age bracket have a high tendency of wearing high heel shoes. This thus means that the main cause of haglunds deformity is overuse of the foot and persistent wearing of high heeled shoes (the same cause of Mortons Neuroma). In a majority of cases, this condition is confused with Achilles tendonitis probably because both of them occur more in athletes.
Symptoms
Some of the symptoms of this condition are blistering, pain and abrasion in the heel. There are of course other symptomatic agents to this condition.
Cause
The cause if this condition is not yet known. However, all we know is that it is most prevalent in women who have a tendency of overly using high heels. The pressure exerted on the heel bone as a result of wearing the high heel shoes is said to be the main cause of haglund deformity.
Diagnosis
The doctor has to find out if the skin is suffering from any infection like breakdown. If there is any infection realized, the doctor is supposed to give proper medication and guidance on how to work around the condition. Systemic arthropathy is another condition that many doctors would aim to check. Through this arthropathy, the foot is thoroughly examined especially on the anterior. The visual checkup will help the doctor to check any changes in soft tissue or skin protrusions. The doctor will also check the possibility of retroachilles bursitis together with pes cavus infections.
Correction and treatment
Mild effects like swellings can be dealt with using home remedies such as application of ice on the affected are to reduce inflammations. If at all the condition becomes overly persistent, the doctor should advice the patient on the right shoes to wear. In the same effect the patient may be advised to avoid wearing high heel shoes to help in lessening pressure and friction in the heel. There are those people who need to wear shoes while workings at all times are advised on alternative shoes.
In case these remedies do not work, patients might be forced to undergo a surgical procedure to remove the infected tissues. Severe cases of bone enlargement or the inability of the patient to use the other types of treatments calls for surgery.
There are ideally three approaches used for this type of surgery.
The lateral approach
This approach apparently does not provide the affected person with the right exposure but it is used to address all of the problems that are associated with the condition.
Arthroscopic resection
Resection normally is comprised of interstitial bursa and calcaneal prominence.
Wedge osteotomy is a procedure that helps to do away with deformities or even makes the effect less protuberant. The wedge osteotomy has not been much accepted by many people around the world but has recorded some measurable successes.
After surgery, the patient has to ensure that they allow their body ample time to heal up. The body might actually need to stay immobile for some time. After surgery it is advisable a avoid cortisone injections because they have a history of increasing the likelihood of Achilles tendonitis. In most cases, the patient will be given some walking apparatus like specialized boots to make sure that the area operated on stays immobile until it is properly healed.