Welcome to the Website of Drs.

Michael Zapf, DPM, Darren Payne, DPM

Lorie Robinson, DPM and Steve Benson, DPM

Thank you for visiting the web site of Drs. Zapf, Payne, Robinson and Benson all practicing in two offices in the Conejo Valley. Our practice name is the Agoura-Los Robles Podiatry Centers. We have combined over 60 years of experience to better serve our patients. Dr. Michael Zapf is mostly responsible for hte content of this web site.. This site is intended for the patients of The Conejo- Los Robles Podiatry Centers. If you are not a patient, you are still welcome to visit the site and learn what you can about your problem. But the doctors cannot assume any responsibility for your care and cannot offer you any medical advice. You need to see your own professional. Your problem may well be different from what you think it is, even with the help of this site. Please note that all information and photographs on this site are copyrighted by the Conejo - Los Robles Podiatry Centers and cannot be used for any private or commercial use.

02/24/2008

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Some patients complain of a 4th toe that curls under the 3rd toe. This produces a callus at the tip of the 4th toe that can be painful and can even blister. The pen is pointing to such a callus on this police officer's 4th toe.

This is the foot of a high school athlete who was not only concerned about the appearance of her left 4th toe but also had pain. Her 4th toe was constantly pinned under her 3rd toe causing blisters, calluses and an irritating rubbing. Conservative therapy consisting of a toe separator failed and she elected to have it straightened under local anesthesia in the office.

Treatment can be either conservative or surgical.

The first conservative treatment is to trim the lesion. This can be done either in the doctor's office or you can trim it yourself at home. Be careful of self treatment if you are a "high risk" patient with poor circulation or diabetes. After you trim it you can protect or pad the area using either a toe separator (on the left) or with a "rolled foam" (on the right).

Finally you can consider a surgery that involves the removal of a wedge of skin as outlined with the ink pen and the removal of a little piece of bone to "uncurl" the toe out from under the 3rd toe.

The surgery is done right in the office with local anesthesia and takes half an hour. You will have sutures in your toe for 10 days and during that time you will probably be asked to keep your foot dry.

This is a picture of the high school girl pictured above after 3 weeks. She was impressed that she was able to paint this nail without the polish getting under the 3rd toe.

There is still some swelling that will reduce as time goes by.

Send mail to (zfootdoc at doctor dot com) with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2000 Michael A. Zapf, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S., F.A.C.F.AOA.M.
Last modified: February 24, 2008