Tailors Bunion (Bunionette)

What is a Tailor’s Bunion (Bunionette)?

A Tailors bunion is a deformity that causes a bony lump, that can also include soft tissue, to develop around the small toe joint on the outside of your foot. Tailors bunions are not as common as bunions.

The bony lump can make your foot wider, making it more difficult to find footwear that is comfortable. Tight fitting footwear can cause rubbing on the Tailors bunion resulting in your skin becoming red, painful and swollen. In some cases the skin can thicken or even blister. On occasion, a bursa can develop over the bony lump which can become inflamed and painful. A bursa is a small fluid filled sack that is found between the bone and the soft tissue and helps to increase shock absorption and reduce friction.

What are the signs and symptoms of a Tailor’s Bunion (Bunionette)?

You may experience any or all the following:

• bony lump on the outside of your foot at the little toe joint
• deviation of the small toe towards the fourth
• toe pain and swelling around the bony lump
• inflamed, swollen or hard skin over the bony lump
• difficulty in finding comfortable fitting footwear

What causes a Tailor’s Bunion (Bunionette)? 

The exact cause is unknown, but it is believed that inherited factors (runs in the family) and the shape of the bones in the feet play a big role in the cause. Footwear is often listed as a contributing factor. Poorly fitting footwear will make your foot more uncomfortable. Footwear that is too tight will put pressure on the joint, bursa and surrounding nerves which will lead to pain.

You may have contributing factors related to a tailor’s bunion (bunionette):

• Previous injuries/trauma to your toe joints
• Hypermobility/flexible joints
• Age
• Inflammatory arthritic conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, etc.)
• Tightness in the muscles in the back of your leg
• Neuromuscular conditions (Stroke, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Charcot-Marie Tooth Syndrome).

What can help with Tailor’s Bunion (Bunionette)?

Most peoples’ pain will decrease by following nonsurgical advice that is aimed at easing or removing the pressures caused by the deformity. These measures will not correct or reduce the size or shape of your deformity.

Making changes to your lifestyle as well as reducing aggravating activities is key to helping your recovery. Only you can do this.

There are a few things you can try including:

• Rest and raise your foot on a stool when you can
• Put an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) in a towel on the painful area for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
• Wear shoes with cushioned heels and good arch support
• Use insoles in your footwear
• Try regular stretching and foot exercises
• Try exercises which put no pressure on your feet, such as swimming
• Try to lose weight if you are overweight or obese

These a few things to try to avoid including:

• Avoid walking or standing for long periods
• Avoid wearing high heels and tight pointy shoes
• Avoid wearing flip-flops or backless slippers
• Avoid walking barefoot on hard surfaces

Shoes

It is important that you choose footwear that is wide and deep enough to accommodate your Tailor’s bunion.

It can also be useful to choose a shoe that has a softer material on the upper. Softer materials can mould around the deformity easier than hard patent leathers.

If your footwear is too narrow it will rub on the Tailor’s bunion causing the surrounding skin to become red, swollen and in some cases become thickened and even blister.

Padding

If you find that the skin or bursa overlying the Tailor’s bunion becomes inflamed or blisters, covering the area with a plaster (if skin is broken) or padding (fleecy web/ semi compressed felt) should help to reduce the friction.