Question
What is involved in electrodesiccation and curettage of a plantar wart on the bottom of the heel? Please describe the procedure and what to expect after the procedure?  Can you walk normally immediately following or is some sort of orthotic required for a period of time? Are stitches required? Pain?

Answer
Hi Jennifer,

The typical procedure for wart curretage of the foot involves numbing the wart area.  An instrument known as a currete is used to remove the wart plus a portion of the surrounding edge which is the high growth area.  An electrical current or chemical is then used at the base of the wound to close off the small blood vessels(cauterize) and to destroy remaining wart tissue.  Stitches are not typically required.  A dressing is used and changed daily/twice daily.

THe heel area is fairly sensitive and is a high weightbearing area.  You may require some time off if the area is large and you are on your feet often.  In some cases a pad can be used to remove pressure from the area so taht you may walk.  Some people have pain and others have very little.  It just depends on your pain tolerance.

As far as the procedure goes, it is a standard procedure with good results, however with any wart treatment recurrence rates may be high.

Good Luck.

Sincerely,

Marc Katz, DPM
Tampa, FL
Advanced Podiatry
www.thetampapodiatrist.com
www.tampacryosurgery.com
www.fix-my-foot.com

DISCLAIMER:
This information is offered as free advice and as general information. It may not be applicable to the specific questioner and his/her problem.  It is not based on actual knowledge of the questioner or his/her medical history and it cannot and should not be relied upon as definitive medical opinion or advice.  Reliable medical opinion and advice can only be obtained through hands-on physical contact and exam of the patient to establish an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.  No doctor/patient relationship is created or established here and may not be inferred through answers on this site.  The questioner and other readers must consult his/her own doctor before proceeding or implementing any suggestions contained within this document and answers on this site.  The questioner is only to act upon his/her own doctor抯 orders and recommendations. By reading this posting which follows, the reader fully understands and confirms that he/she holds harmless this writer. If this is not fully agreeable to you, the reader, and/or you have not attained the age of 18 years, you hereby are advised to read no further.