Wart cont..

Surgical Curettage

A special small surgical instrument called a "curette" is used to scoop or shell out each wart. This blunt instrument separates the wart tissue from the healthy tissue surrounding it. The base or bottom of the lesion may also be cauterized electrically, chemically or with a laser to discourage regrowth. The electrical method is called electrodessication.

Chemical Removal of warts

Relatively strong solutions and ointments made of acids and caustics are carefully used to destroy warts. These chemicals can be used singly or in combination. Normally a series of treatments is needed because most often the wart is not completely destroyed in one treatment. Treatment plans vary in length of time, lasting as long 10 weeks to as little as one week. However, there is very little postoperative care needed with this method.

During this series of treatments the medicines used on your feet can cause a reaction in the form of swelling and throbbing. The patient should not become alarmed if this reaction takes place. It indicates that the tissue is destroying the growth. When tissue is destroyed, a certain amount of discomfort can occur. If you have a reaction such as drainage, pain or swelling, please call your doctor's office for advise.

Foot Surgery for warts

Warts are caused by a virus and can recur. An individual who has a wart is susceptible to developing additional warts. Plantar warts are often mistaken for corns or calluses on the sole of the foot. Plantar refers to the bottom of the foot, where warts are most likely seen, although they can also occur on the toes. Plantar warts have a spongy appearance with little black, brown or red spots indicative of blood vessels feeding them. The lesions are circumscribed, which means they have a ring around each growth separating it from the surrounding skin.

There are many ways to treat these benign (non-cancerous) skin lesions. There is no best way. There is no quick way. Each method of treatment has advantages and disadvantages.Your doctor will recommend the type of treatment that is best for you. Sometimes it becomes necessary to use a combination of treatments. It depends on how your warts respond to your doctor's therapy. The most difficult wart to treat is a resistive type that appears in a pattern of groups or clusters. these are known as mosaic warts.

Conclusion

Your podiatrist has the ability to treat the below emergencies, as well as any other sprain, fracture, contusion, bruise or injury of the foot. Prompt attention can prevent future problems. Remember, if you have any underlying problems such as diabetes or poor circulation, prompt attention is even more urgent.

Foreign Bodies

A foreign body injury occurs when an object breaks through the skin and becomes embedded within the deeper tissues of the foot.

When a puncture wound occurs in the foot, a podiatrist should be consulted to assess if an object is embedded in the foot. Often an x-ray is not enough to visualize the object unless it is composed of metal. These injuries sometimes require further studies to identify the foreign body and its location. If a foreign object is left in the foot, it can continue to move into the deeper tissues and require surgical removal. This injury can also require antibiotic treatment or a tetanus shot.

Puncture Wounds

Other common traumatic injuries treated by podiatrists are puncture wounds and foreign bodies.

A puncture wound occurs when you step on a sharp or jagged object and it breaks through the skin and enters the deeper tissue of the foot. These injuries typically occur in the warmer weather when people are tempted to go outside barefoot or when they walk around their house in stocking feet.

Thermal Injuries and Chemical Burns

The two most common thermal injuries are burns and frostbite. These injuries can occur from exposure to extremes in temperature, resulting in tissue damage and loss. Burns, of course, are sustained when a hot object has contact with the skin for a sufficient amount of time to damage the skin and underlying structures. Conversely, prolonged exposure to cold results in what is commonly known as frostbite.

Chemical burns result from exposure of the skin to an acid or caustic chemical agent. Most commonly, the improper use of over-the-counter corn removers result in such burns. Chemical burns severity is dependent upon the strength or concentration of the chemical agent. Specific treatment usually involves removal and neutralization of the chemical agent.

In all of the above cases prompt treatment and evaluation can often prevent infection and further tissue loss.

Nail Trauma

Everyone at some time has either stubbed a toe or dropped something on a toe. When this happens, the nail often is injured and bleeding beneath the nail can occur. The nail may then turn black and blue and eventually be lost. Your podiatrist may need to release the blood under the nail, and it severe enough remove the entire nail. The nail bed or skin under the nail could have suffered significant laceration and/or a fracture of the bone beneath the nail.

This injury is serious and needs professional would care and possibly antibiotic therapy as soon as possible.

Regrowth of the nail after injury depends on the extent of damage to the nail "root" or matrix. These are the specialized cells of the skin that produce the hard nail plate. If the nail matrix is not involved in the injury, then the chances if having a normal nail return are good. If the matrix cells are damaged, the nail may return thickened and/or deformed

Children's Growth Plate Fractures

Epiphyseal fractures are fractures of the growth plate in children. Children's bones are not completely formed and if injured and left untreated deformities could result.

If the growth plate is injured, it may lead to a shortened bone or an angulation type of deformity in the bone. when a child sprains an ankle, limps or complains of pain, it is important to seek proper podiatric medical treatment. Children usually will not complain of pain without cause. Young patients with foot or ankle sprains may have a fracture of the growth plate in any of the foot or ankle bones. This could require immobilization in a cast.