Surgery for permanent removal of corns is infrequent but, in some cases necessary. A Podiatrist can determine if surgery is indicated. When the corn is caused by a bone deformity, hammertoe, claw toe or mallet toe surgery may be indicated.  If the problem is recurrent and very painful surgical management could be an option. The surgery can be performed in an office setting under local anesthesia. The procedure is usually performed in 30 minutes or less. The patient can go home after the intervention and will need to wear a post-operative shoe for about 2 weeks. The average healing time for the procedure is roughly two weeks.

It is always best to have a consultation with a Podiatrist to determine the appropriate treatment plan. Podiatrists have 4 years of medical training and there are some that possess post-doctoral training in Podiatric surgery.

Dr. Darrell Bevacqua, Podiatrist

​​Corns and calluses are a major cause of foot pain. They come in many different forms and they can occur in many places on the foot.  We find them most commonly on top of the toes. Other possible locations include in between or on the tip of the toes, on the ball of the foot, or heel. 

Types of Corns And Calluses

  • ​​Heloma Durum or Hard Corns are usually found on the tops of toes frequently caused by tight ill-fitting shoes. Nonflexible hammertoe or claw toe deformities can also be the culprit. 
  • Heloma Molle or Soft Corns are usually found between the toes are usually caused by a bony prominence or exostosis. This type of corn is usually aggravated by tight-fitting shoes. 
  • Intractable Plantar Keratosis (IPK) is a focused hard concentrated corn usually on the ball of the foot or heel. They are typically small (less than 5mm) but are extremely hard and intrude into the deeper tissues of the skin. This fibrous hard corn can be associated with impingement on a neurovascular bundle and cause extreme pain.​
  • Heloma Miliare or Seed Corns are very small corns usually 1-2 mm that are usually found in callused tissue located on the bottom of the foot. Typically, they are found in clusters and are not as painful as other types of corns. In most cases, they are not painful at all. 
  • Lister's or Durlacher's Corn is a small hard corn located next to the nail plate on the fifth toe. This is caused by repetitive rubbing of a shoe or boot on the fifth toe and is very difficult to remove at home. Patients often mistake this type of corn for an ingrown toenail. The Lister’s corn can be extremely painful. In almost all cases this type of corn requires a Podiatrist for removal. 
  • Calluses or Tylomasare thickened areas of skin (hyperkeratosis) that have no central core and therefore in most cases are not painful. They are also caused by friction and in response to this friction, our body tries to produce a protective layer. In some cases, they can become very thick, and become painful especially when located under points of pressure.
  • Plantar Warts are caused by the HPV virus (Human Papilloma Virus) which enters the skin through small cuts or micro cracks. Once in the skin, the virus replicates causing a bump which is actually a benign tumour.

Surgical Correction For Corns

Dr. Darrell Bevacqua, Podiatrist  

25 ans d'expérience professionnelle​​

Docteur en médecine podiatrique

Résidence chirurgicale post doctorale 

Hôpital Vétérans,Brooklyn, New York 

Clinicien | Chargé de cours  
Département des Sciences de l’activité physique 

Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
3351, boul. des Forges,Trois-Rivières (Québec) G8Z 4M3 

Clinique podiatrique de Verdun  
3954a Wellington, Verdun (Montréal) 

Tél : (514) 768 - 5060

Treatments For Corns And Calluses

  • ​Pharmacies - Pads, Files, Pumice stones, and keratolytic products which contain acids are sold over the counter but should be used with caution. Keratolytic products can be extremely dangerous for diabetics, the elderly and people with poor circulation. These products have been known to cause chemical burns if not used properly. Consult your Podiatrist before using keratolytic preparations.
  • Podiatrists – A CertifiedPodiatrist can safely treat and remove painful corns and calluses and most cases with no pain to the patient. The Podiatrist possesses the correct sterilized equipment and training necessary to remove these lesions with ease and with no discomfort to the patient.​
  • Orthotics in some cases are used to eliminate or relieve pressure points that can cause painful corns or calluses on the bottom of the feet.

In some instances, they occur in the toenail skin folds and grooves. Corns and calluses are formations of thick skin in the epidermis caused by repetitive friction. This friction is often caused by ill-fitting shoes but there may be other causes. Bone deformities such as exostoses, bone spurs, and Osteoarthritis can cause bony prominences which may produce corns and calluses. Sometimes corns can be confused with warts, but they are completely different. Warts are caused by a viral infection (Human Papilloma Virus). Corns and calluses are not infectious, and they are caused by friction. Warts are contagious and should always be treated to prevent the spread of the virus to others. Corns and calluses are treated when they become painful. In both cases, early treatment prevents the problem from becoming chronic.

Corns And Calluses