Kallukset

Kallukset is a Finnish term that can refer to two related medical concepts: skin calluses caused by repeated friction or pressure, and bone calluses that form during fracture healing. In everyday language, kallukset most commonly describe thickened, keratinized patches of skin, typically on the feet or hands. These calluses develop as a protective adaptation to ongoing mechanical stress. They are usually painless but can become uncomfortable if they grow large, crack, or are exposed to continuous pressure. Prevention centers on reducing friction and pressure through properly fitting footwear, protective padding, and, when appropriate, regular smoothing of the skin with a pumice stone. In some cases, medical care may be needed to treat symptomatic calluses or to address underlying conditions such as foot deformities, diabetes-related neuropathy, or circulatory problems.

In a broader medical context, kallus also denotes a bone callus, the new tissue that forms around a fractured bone during healing. The process starts with an inflammatory phase, followed by the development of a soft callus composed of cartilage and tissue, which later ossifies into a hard callus and is gradually remodeled into mature bone. The timeline varies with age, fracture type, and treatment, but radiographic evidence of callus formation typically appears within weeks of injury. Abnormal callus formation can indicate complications such as nonunion, malalignment, or infection.

See also: callus (skin); fracture healing; orthopedics.