Haglund’s deformity is a bony enlargement on the back of the heel. The soft tissue near the Achilles tendon becomes irritated when the bony enlargement rubs against shoes. This often leads to painful bursitis, which is an inflammation of the bursa (a fluid-filled sac between the tendon and bone).
Haglund’s deformity is often called “pump bump” because the rigid backs of pump-style shoes can create pressure that aggravates the enlargement when walking. In fact, any shoes with a rigid back, such as ice skates, men’s dress shoes, or women’s pumps, can cause this irritation. The most common cause in patients who have not habitually worn these types of shoes, however, is a tight Achilles tendon and tight calf muscles.
To some extent, heredity plays a role in Haglund’s deformity. Inherited foot structures that can make one prone to developing this condition include:
Haglund’s deformity can occur in one or both feet. The symptoms include:
After evaluating your symptoms, our podiatrists will examine the foot. In addition, we will order x-rays to help evaluate the structure of the heel bone.
Non-surgical treatment of Haglund’s deformity is aimed at reducing the inflammation of the bursa. While these approaches can resolve the pain and inflammation, they will not shrink the bony protrusion. Non-surgical treatment can include one or more of the following:
If non-surgical treatment fails to provide adequate pain relief, surgery may be needed. Our team will determine the procedure that is best suited to your case. It is important to follow her instructions for post-surgical care.
A recurrence of Haglund’s deformity may be prevented by:
At Peninsula Podiatry, we offer a full range of treatment options for Haglund’s deformity. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call (360) 228-2423.
