What are Durlacher's Corns on the Foot?

A ‘Durlacher corn‘ is a particular type of pressure corn that occurs on the little toe. It is like any other corn that is caused by too much pressure, but what is unique about this corn is that it is pushed up against the side of the toenail on the little toe and can often be confused with a nail. This particular corn is named after Lewis Durlacher (1792-1864) who was a chiropodist from the United Kingdom. In the USA, this particular type of corn is called the Lister’s corn. Any corn on the foot is an area of skin build up in response to too much pressure. When this pressure on the skin is higher, the skin becomes thicker to protect itself and eventually skin gets so thick it becomes painful. The same process happens in the Durlacher corn, the higher pressure on little toe next to the nail causes the corn. There could be a variety of reasons for this higher pressure on the little toe. It could be due to a type of deformity of the toe. It could be due to an enlarged bone in the toe. It could be due to the shape of the footwear, especially the shape of toe box. Any of these factors can lead to increased pressure to cause the corn. The typical symptoms are increasing pain next to the nail on the little toe and on examination it just looks like an extra piece of toenail. This similar appearance has led some to suggest that this is really a nail and not a pressure corn.

The treatment for Durlacher corns will have to be directed at the causes of the higher pressures. It is not difficult to remove the corn and a Podiatrist can easily remove the corn to give instant relief. However, that is not really the answer as the pressure that caused the corn in the first place is still there and the corn will recur again unless something is done to remove that higher pressure that is causing the problem. This is an issue in all corns meaning that if whatever caused the corn in the first place is still there it is going to come back again and will need to be removed or it is going to be painful again. Corns on the foot do not have roots that they grow back from if the root is left in. They come back again because what caused them (the higher pressure) is still there. The medicated corn pads with acids in them are not going to be helpful as they just eat away the corn and normal skin and do nothing to address the cause of pressure causing the Durlachers corn. That higher pressure can be addressed with the use of adhesive felt pads, silicone gel tube pads or custom moulded silicone pads that get pressure off the area or change the posture of the toe. The pressure could be relieved with the use of better fitting footwear. It also could mean a surgical removal of the enlarged piece of bone that is causing the pressure.

Craig Payne is a University lecturer, runner, cynic, researcher, skeptic, forum admin, woo basher, clinician, rabble-rouser, blogger and a dad.