Minimally Invasive Fifth Metatarsal Surgery

One of our patients recently attended The Coriel Clinic after living with a painful ulcer beneath the fifth metatarsal head for almost 18 years.

Despite seeking treatment from a number of practitioners over the years, the underlying cause of the problem had never been resolved.

The patient explained that previous treatments mainly focused on managing the symptoms rather than addressing the source of the issue.

“I was sent to various chiropodists and they just kept trimming it down, but that was it. Nobody could really get to the bottom of the problem.”

After being referred elsewhere for surgery, the patient felt uncertain about the proposed treatment plan and sought a second opinion at The Coriel Clinic.

“When I came here, everything finally made sense. The explanation of what was causing the problem and how it could be treated sounded much better than what I’d been told before.”

Following assessment, the patient underwent minimally invasive surgery on the fifth metatarsal. Through a small incision, the bone was carefully repositioned to relieve pressure from the area that had been causing the chronic ulcer. Importantly, the procedure required no screws or fixation, allowing the bone to heal naturally in its new position.

Six weeks after surgery, the patient reported an extremely positive recovery.

“The recovery was simple. It’s been absolutely fantastic — and the biggest thing is there’s been no pain.”

Before the procedure, the patient had to constantly wear protective footwear and often walked on their toes to avoid pressure on the painful area.

“If I didn’t have something on my foot, I would walk on my toes because it felt like I was standing on a hot coal.”

Now, six weeks after the operation, the difference has been remarkable.

“I can walk across the floor barefoot now without any pain at all. That’s something I couldn’t do before.”

This case demonstrates how targeted minimally invasive surgery can successfully address long-standing foot problems by treating the underlying cause rather than simply managing symptoms — allowing patients to regain comfort and confidence in their everyday mobility.

For more information or to book an appointment at Coriel Clinic, please fill out the contact form below, or call the team on 01302 238 291 or email enquiries@corielortho.com