Would you like to switch to the accessible version of this site?

Go to accessible site Close modal window

Don't need the accessible version of this site?

Hide the accessibility button Close modal window
Accessibility View Close toolbar
Menu
  • Home
  • Staff
  • Office
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Patient Education
    • Bone/Joint/Tendon
      • Accessory Navicular Syndrome
      • Achilles Tendon Rupture
      • Ankle
        • Ankle Arthritis
        • Ankle Fractures
        • Ankle Pain
        • Ankle Sprain
        • Swollen Ankles
        • Tarsal Coalition
        • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
        • Weak Ankles
      • Arch Pain
      • Arch Supports
      • Bone Healing
      • Bone Infection
      • Bone Tumors in the Foot
      • Brachymetatarsia
      • Bunions (Hallux Abducto Valgus)
      • Bursitis
      • Calcaneal Apophysitis (Sever's Disease)
      • Calf Pain
      • Capsulitis of the Second Toe
      • Cavus Foot (High-Arched Foot)
      • Charcot Foot
      • Chronic Ankle Instability
      • Clubfoot
      • Cold Feet
      • Common Disorders of the Achilles Tendon
      • Drop Foot
      • DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
      • Extra Bones
      • Fallen Arches
      • Fifth Metatarsal Fracture
      • Flatfoot
        • Flatfoot-Adult Acquired
        • Flatfoot-Flexible
        • Flatfoot-Pediatric
      • Foot Arthritis
      • Foot Drop
      • Fracture
        • Foot Fracture
        • Fracture-Ankle
        • Fracture-Foot
        • Fractures of the Calcaneus (Heel Bone Fractures)
        • Fractures of the Fifth Metatarsal
        • Fracture-Toe
        • Jones Fracture
        • Stress Fracture in the Foot
        • Toe and Metatarsal Fractures (Broken Toes)
      • Gangrene
      • Gout
      • Haglund's Deformity
      • Hallux Rigidus
      • Hammertoes
      • Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)
      • High-Arched Foot
      • Intermetatarsal Neuroma
      • Intoeing
      • Joint Pain in the Foot
      • Joint Swelling in the Foot
      • Lisfranc Injuries
      • Os Trigonum Syndrome
      • Osteoarthritis of the Foot and Ankle
      • Osteomyelitis (Bone Infection)
      • Osteopenia
      • Osteoporosis
      • Peroneal Tendon Injuries
      • Pigeon-toes
      • Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD)
      • R.I.C.E Protocol
      • Restless Legs
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Foot and Ankle
      • Sesamoid Injuries in the Foot
      • Shin Splints
      • Swollen Feet
      • Synovitis
      • Tailor's Bunion
      • Talar Dome Lesion
      • Tingly Feet
      • Tired Feet
      • Toe Walking
      • Turf Toe
      • Varicose Veins
      • Webbed Toes
    • Nails and Skin
      • Athlete's Foot
      • Black Toenails
      • Callus
      • Contact Dermatitis
      • Corns
      • Cracked Heels
      • Dermatitis
      • Dry Heels
      • Eczema of the Foot
      • Foot Bumps
      • Foot Lumps
      • Foot Odor
      • Foot Rash
      • Frostbite
      • Fungal Nails
      • Ganglion Cyst
      • Heel Fissures
      • Inflammation: Acute
      • Ingrown Toenails
      • Malignant Melanoma of the Foot
      • Plantar Fibroma
      • Plantar Wart (Verruca Plantaris)
      • Pump Bump (Hallux Rigidus)
      • Puncture Wounds
      • Rash
      • Raynauds Phenomenon
      • Skin Cancer of the Foot and Ankle
      • Smelly Feet
      • Sweaty Feet
      • Thick Toenails
      • Warts
      • White Toenails
      • Wounds/Ulcers
      • Wounds-Puncture
      • Yellow Toenails
    • Diabetic Health
      • Diabetic Complications and Amputation Prevention
      • Diabetic Foot Care Guidelines
      • Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
      • Diabetic Shoes
      • MRSA Infection of the Foot
      • Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.)
      • Soft Tissue Biopsy
    • Fitness and Your Feet
      • Baseball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Basketball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Field Hockey Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Football Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Golf Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Lacrosse Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Rugby Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Running and Track Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Soccer Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Softball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Tennis Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
      • Volleyball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Orthotics and Footwear
      • Custom Orthotic Devices
      • Orthotics
      • Shoe Inserts
    • Compartment Syndrome
    • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
    • Equinus
    • Instructions for Using Crutches
    • Staph Infections of the Foot
  • Newsletter
  • Reviews

Pawleys Podiatry

(843) 235-0002

Patient Portal Login
  • Welcome! >
  • Articles >
  • Bone/Joint/Tendon >
  • Tailor's Bunion

Tailors 1What Is a Tailor’s Bunion?
Tailor’s bunion, also called a bunionette, is a prominence of the fifth metatarsal bone at the base of the little toe. The metatarsals are the five long bones of the foot. The prominence that characterizes a tailor’s bunion occurs at the metatarsal “head,” located at the far end of the bone where it meets the toe. Tailor’s bunions are not as common as bunions, which occur on the inside of the foot, but they are similar in symptoms and causes.

Why is it called a tailor’s bunion? The deformity received its name centuries ago, when tailors sat cross-legged all day with the outside edge of their feet rubbing on the ground. This constant rubbing led to a painful bump at the base of the little toe.

Causes
Often a tailor’s bunion is caused by an inherited faulty mechanical structure of the foot. In these cases, changes occur in the foot’s bony framework, resulting in the development of an enlargement. The fifth metatarsal bone starts to protrude outward, while the little toe moves inward. This shift creates a bump on the outside of the foot that becomes irritated whenever a shoe presses against it.

Sometimes a tailor’s bunion is actually a bony spur (an outgrowth of bone) on the side of the fifth metatarsal head.

Regardless of the cause, the symptoms of a tailor’s bunion are usually aggravated by wearing shoes that are too narrow in the toe, producing constant rubbing and pressure.

Tailors 2Symptoms
The symptoms of tailor’s bunions include redness, swelling, and pain at the site of the enlargement. These symptoms occur when wearing shoes that rub against the enlargement, irritating the soft tissues underneath the skin and producing inflammation.

Diagnosis
Tailor’s bunion is easily diagnosed because the protrusion is visually apparent. X-rays may be ordered to help the foot and ankle surgeon determine the cause and extent of the deformity.

Non-Surgical Treatment
Treatment for tailor’s bunion typically begins with non-surgical therapies. Your foot and ankle surgeon may select one or more of the following:

  • Shoe modifications. Choose shoes that have a wide toe box, and avoid those with pointed toes or high heels.
  • Padding. Bunionette pads placed over the area may help reduce pain.
  • Oral medications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, may help relieve the pain and inflammation.
  • Icing. An ice pack may be applied to reduce pain and inflammation. Wrap the pack in a thin towel rather than placing ice directly on your skin.
  • Injection therapy. Injections of corticosteroid may be used to treat the inflamed tissue around the joint.
  • Orthotic devices. In some cases, custom orthotic devices may be provided by the foot and ankle surgeon.

When Is Surgery Needed?
Surgery is often considered when pain continues despite the above approaches. In selecting the procedure or combination of procedures for your case, the foot and ankle surgeon will take into consideration the extent of your deformity based on the x-ray findings, your age, your activity level, and other factors. The length of the recovery period will vary, depending on the procedure or procedures performed.

  • Bone/Joint/Tendon
    • Accessory Navicular Syndrome
    • Achilles Tendon Rupture
    • Ankle
      • Ankle Arthritis
      • Ankle Fractures
      • Ankle Pain
      • Ankle Sprain
      • Swollen Ankles
      • Tarsal Coalition
      • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
      • Weak Ankles
    • Arch Pain
    • Arch Supports
    • Bone Healing
    • Bone Infection
    • Bone Tumors in the Foot
    • Brachymetatarsia
    • Bunions (Hallux Abducto Valgus)
    • Bursitis
    • Calcaneal Apophysitis (Sever's Disease)
    • Calf Pain
    • Capsulitis of the Second Toe
    • Cavus Foot (High-Arched Foot)
    • Charcot Foot
    • Chronic Ankle Instability
    • Clubfoot
    • Cold Feet
    • Common Disorders of the Achilles Tendon
    • Drop Foot
    • DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
    • Extra Bones
    • Fallen Arches
    • Fifth Metatarsal Fracture
    • Flatfoot
      • Flatfoot-Adult Acquired
      • Flatfoot-Flexible
      • Flatfoot-Pediatric
    • Foot Arthritis
    • Foot Drop
    • Fracture
      • Foot Fracture
      • Fracture-Ankle
      • Fracture-Foot
      • Fractures of the Calcaneus (Heel Bone Fractures)
      • Fractures of the Fifth Metatarsal
      • Fracture-Toe
      • Jones Fracture
      • Stress Fracture in the Foot
      • Toe and Metatarsal Fractures (Broken Toes)
    • Gangrene
    • Gout
    • Haglund's Deformity
    • Hallux Rigidus
    • Hammertoes
    • Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)
    • High-Arched Foot
    • Intermetatarsal Neuroma
    • Intoeing
    • Joint Pain in the Foot
    • Joint Swelling in the Foot
    • Lisfranc Injuries
    • Os Trigonum Syndrome
    • Osteoarthritis of the Foot and Ankle
    • Osteomyelitis (Bone Infection)
    • Osteopenia
    • Osteoporosis
    • Peroneal Tendon Injuries
    • Pigeon-toes
    • Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD)
    • R.I.C.E Protocol
    • Restless Legs
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Foot and Ankle
    • Sesamoid Injuries in the Foot
    • Shin Splints
    • Swollen Feet
    • Synovitis
    • Tailor's Bunion
    • Talar Dome Lesion
    • Tingly Feet
    • Tired Feet
    • Toe Walking
    • Turf Toe
    • Varicose Veins
    • Webbed Toes
  • Nails and Skin
    • Athlete's Foot
    • Black Toenails
    • Callus
    • Contact Dermatitis
    • Corns
    • Cracked Heels
    • Dermatitis
    • Dry Heels
    • Eczema of the Foot
    • Foot Bumps
    • Foot Lumps
    • Foot Odor
    • Foot Rash
    • Frostbite
    • Fungal Nails
    • Ganglion Cyst
    • Heel Fissures
    • Inflammation: Acute
    • Ingrown Toenails
    • Malignant Melanoma of the Foot
    • Plantar Fibroma
    • Plantar Wart (Verruca Plantaris)
    • Pump Bump (Hallux Rigidus)
    • Puncture Wounds
    • Rash
    • Raynauds Phenomenon
    • Skin Cancer of the Foot and Ankle
    • Smelly Feet
    • Sweaty Feet
    • Thick Toenails
    • Warts
    • White Toenails
    • Wounds/Ulcers
    • Wounds-Puncture
    • Yellow Toenails
  • Diabetic Health
    • Diabetic Complications and Amputation Prevention
    • Diabetic Foot Care Guidelines
    • Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
    • Diabetic Shoes
    • MRSA Infection of the Foot
    • Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.)
    • Soft Tissue Biopsy
  • Fitness and Your Feet
    • Baseball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Basketball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Field Hockey Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Football Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Golf Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Lacrosse Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Rugby Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Running and Track Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Soccer Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Softball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Tennis Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
    • Volleyball Injuries to the Foot and Ankle
  • Orthotics and Footwear
    • Custom Orthotic Devices
    • Orthotics
    • Shoe Inserts
  • Compartment Syndrome
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
  • Equinus
  • Instructions for Using Crutches
  • Staph Infections of the Foot

Contact Us

Our Location

Find us on the map

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-12:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

  • Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Officite.
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map