Procedure for Bunion Surgery

Bunions are a foot deformity which occurs as a result of problems with the bone connecting the big toe and the metatarsal. When this bone begins to jut out, the big toe starts to drift towards the other toes. The bone becomes pronounced, and a bump called a bunion forms on the inner border of the toe, made of bone and soft tissue. Bunions can be surgically treated, but surgery is often a last resort.

Evaluating the Need for Bunion Surgery

• Bunion surgery is appropriate when patients are unable to manage bunion pain and/or when their daily activities are impacted by a bunion. Between 85 and 90 percent of patients are satisfied with the level of pain reduction from bunion surgery, according to Your Orthopedic Connection. However, maintaining reasonable expectations is essential to being satisfied with the surgery. The surgery is not cosmetic and will not change the appearance of the foot or allow patients to wear fashionable shoes that they previously could not wear.

Prior to the Surgery

• Before bunion surgery, an orthopedic will take a full medical history. He may do a physical and/or examine the foot itself, and he will usually want to review other options you have tried for treatment of the bunion. Finally, the surgeon will take X-rays of the foot to determine the extent of the deformity and chose a type of surgery to perform.

Surgery

• There are four different types of bunion surgery. The first type involves repairing tissue that has become too lose on side and too tight on the other as a result of the stretching that occurs when the toe becomes pronounced. The second, anthrodesis, removes damaged toe joints and replaces them with plates, screws or wires. The third, anthroplasty, involves removing the damaged portion of the toe and re-aligning the toe. The fourth, exostectomy, is a rare procedure which simply removes the bump. It is appropriate only when the bone is enlarged and there is no drifting of the toes.

After Surgery

• Following the surgery, the foot will usually be in a bandage for between seven and 21 days until the stitches come out. You need to keep the foot dry. For a few days following the surgery, you may need to keep your foot elevated and/or use ice to treat pain associated with the surgery. For between six and 12 weeks, you may need to avoid putting weight on the foot by using a walker, cane, crutches and/or special shoes. For another several weeks after that, you may only be able to put partial weight on the foot.

Longterm Care

• In rare cases, nerves may be damaged during the surgery that cause persistent tingling or pain in the toe. Even when the surgery works perfectly, you may be restricted in the type of shoes you wear for life. Wearing narrow shoes or high heels may cause a recurrence of the bunion that will require additional treatment.