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A bunion is an abnormal boney growth of the joint attaching the big toe to the foot, and surgical treatment for bunions is one method used to manage them. When a bunion develops, the big toe gradually becomes displaced towards the other toes as the bunion slowly enlarges.
Contact our office today to find out if surgical treatment for bunions is a good choice for you. We can help you determine the best care management plan for your situation.
Signs and Symptoms
Bunions form a characteristic enlargement around the base of the big toe. In addition to being unsightly, bunions are often quite painful and disrupt normal ambulation. With each step, the bunion bears the entire weight of the affected person. The alteration in gait caused by the bunion can stress other parts of the body and cause pain in the knees, hips, back, and/or ankles. In addition, bunions do not fit well into shoes and tend to painfully rub or press against the side of the shoe. A severe bunion can impair a person’s ability to walk, interferes with daily activities, and significantly reduces the quality of life.
Surgical Treatment for Bunions
Surgical treatment for bunions is called bunionectomy. Under local or general anesthesia, the surgeon cuts ligaments in the affected joint and re-aligns the toe. The excess bone is cut off and wires or screws are placed to hold the toe in the correct position. Sometimes cuts to the bones in the toe are necessary to realign it. Because every patient’s bunion is unique, the exact procedure will vary. Simply cutting off the boney bump sticking out of the side of the foot, a procedure called exostectomy, is not sufficient to treat a bunion. If exostectomy without realignment of the toe is performed, the bunion will simply recur. Ask about our specialized minimally invasive bunion surgery to find out how we can correct the problem with state-of-the-art techniques.
What to Expect
Although patients generally go home the day of the surgery, full recovery can often take up to six months. Patients will need to frequently visit a doctor for the first year after surgery to ensure that it is healing well. At our office, however, we provide minimally invasive bunion surgery that provides our patients with minimal downtime.
Patients should also be aware that they will never be able to wear tight, pointy shoes again after surgical correction or the bunion may recur. However, your doctor will give you specific information for caring for your feet after your treatment.
Recovery
A dressing or brace will be applied to the foot after surgery. This dressing will need to be worn for 6 to 12 weeks and will have to be protected from water during bathing. The patient should not attempt to remove or replace the dressing as it has to be precisely placed in order to support the healing foot. The surgeon may prescribe a narcotic pain medication to control pain after the surgery. For the first few post-surgical days, patients should plan to rest, keep the foot elevated, and apply ice packs. Some patients will need to use crutches or a knee walker to avoid putting any weight on the foot during the healing period. The length of time the patient will need to refrain from weight-bearing depends on how complicated the surgical procedure was. Patients may also need to avoid driving during the healing period. The doctor may also prescribe special foot exercises or physical therapy to aid in healing. Depending on the extent of your surgery, you may not need much post-care direction. Your doctor will give you more information.
Risks and Adverse Events
As with any surgical procedure, there are low risks of a reaction to the anesthesia, bleeding, and post-surgical infection. After bunion surgery, some people find they have limited mobility of the big toe, which can adversely affect ambulation. Other people experience chronic pain. Occasionally the bunion will recur, and in some cases, the big toe deviates after surgery and rather than being straight points to one side. However, the vast majority of individuals who undergo bunion surgery have significantly less pain and improved mobility after surgery. Additionally, our minimally invasive techniques mean that these risks and adverse effects are greatly minimized.
Who Should Have Bunion Surgery?
Anyone with moderate to severe pain or limitations in performing daily activities should try conservative treatment first. If the symptoms are not relieved by the conservative treatment the individual should consider bunion surgery. Bunion surgery should not be performed solely for cosmetic reasons; unless the bunion is causing pain and interfering with daily life it should be treated with conservative measures. Individuals with co-morbidities that make any surgery very risky should discuss their individual pros and cons of the procedure with a qualified surgeon. However, because the procedure can be performed under local or spinal anesthesia, even individuals with significant co-morbidities may be able to safely undergo surgical treatment. If the bunion is due to some foot abnormality, such as a flat foot, it is necessary to correct the problem before performing bunion surgery or the bunion will almost certainly recur.
Conservative Treatment
For mild bunions, wearing special orthopedic inserts or even special shoes may be sufficient to relieve the symptoms. It is vital to stop wearing tight, pointy shoes at the first signs of a bunion developing; simply switching to proper footwear may stop the bunion from worsening. Exercises to strengthen the muscles of the foot can also help prevent bunions from getting worse. For moderate to severe bunions, surgery is the recommended treatment.
Causes of Bunions
Years of wearing poorly fitted shoes, such as high-heels with pointy toes, are a common cause of bunions. Genetics can also play a role since the condition tends to run in families and is thought to be due to an inherited weak or abnormal foot structure. Arthritis can also cause some cases of bunions.
For more information, and to find out if surgical treatment for bunions is a good fit for you, contact us today.
