CORNS

Course overview

A CORN, ALSO KNOWN AS A "HELOMA" OR "FOCAL INTRACTABLE PLANTAR HYPERKERATOSIS," IS A TYPE OF CALLOSITY. THIS LATTER IS A COMMON, UNCOMFORTABLE, THICKENED SKIN LESION THAT RESULTS FROM REPEATED MECHANICAL TRAUMA DUE TO FRICTION OR PRESSURE FORCES. IN THE LITERATURE, CONFUSING TERMINOLOGY IS OFTEN USED TO CALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF HYPERKERATOTIC SKIN LESIONS. NEVERTHELESS, A CORN SHOULD BE DISTINGUISHED FROM A CALLUS, WHICH IS A MORE DIFFUSE TYPE OF CALLOSITY. THUS, A CORN IS A WELL-DELIMITED FOCAL AREA OF HYPERKERATOSIS. THIS CONDITION OFTEN IS SEEN IN ATHLETES AND IN PATIENTS WHO ARE EXPOSED TO UNEQUAL FRICTION FORCE FROM FOOTWEAR OR GAIT PROBLEMS, INCLUDING THE ELDERLY, PATIENTS WITH DIABETES, AND AMPUTEES. IT SHOULD BE REGARDED AS A SYMPTOM RATHER THAN AN EFFECTIVE DISEASE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY, PRESENTATION, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF CORNS AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING, DIAGNOSING, AND MANAGING THE CONDITION.