What type of skive is indicated to relieve pressure from a healed sub 5th met head ulceration?

• A. Medial Heel Skive
• B. Lateral Heel Skive
• C. Planter Skive
• D. Distal Skive

Answer: (B)

In addressing the relief of pressure from a healed ulceration beneath the fifth metatarsal head, the lateral heel skive is the appropriate choice. This type of skive involves the modification of the lateral aspect of the heel, which can help redistribute forces away from the 5th metatarsal region, thereby alleviating pressure on the site of the previous ulceration.

When a heel skive is performed laterally, it effectively lowers the height of the lateral heel counter, allowing for greater accommodation of the foot's natural anatomy and enhancing comfort. This is particularly important in preventing recurrent ulceration or other complications arising from localized pressure in that area. Essential to the management of ulcerations is ensuring that there is a reduction of pressure and friction at the site, which this skive technique accomplishes by redistributing load away from the fifth metatarsal head.

Both the medial heel skive and plantar skives would not provide the necessary pressure relief as effectively for a specific issue below the fifth metatarsal, and the distal skive serves a different purpose related to the toe area rather than addressing the heel and metatarsal head pressures. Thus, the lateral heel skive is specifically designed to cater to the needs of