Conditions of the toenails.

Athletes are susceptible to developing toenail problems because of the speed or intensity of play (runners), the starting and stopping nature of the sport (tennis, racquetball), and the type of activity and shoes they wear or do not wear (ballet dancers, gymnasts). They may also have other conditions, such as hallux valgus, claw toes, gout, diabetes, arthritis, or fungus infection of the nails, that may influence the decision on the type of treatment recommended. Nail trauma that could result in osteomyelitis; secondary effects of arthritis, such as the development of a mucous cyst; and the infected ingrown toenail are seen frequently in the athlete and can be satisfactorily treated by the orthopedist.