What Is Foot Bunion Surgery?

A bunion is a bump that appears on the side of an individual's big toe. It occurs when the big toe begins to lean toward the other toes. Bunions can be caused by wearing tight fitting shoes, arthritis and polio, or it can be inherited. There are various types of foot bunion surgeries that can be performed in order to relieve pain and realign the joint.

When Will Someone Need Surgery?

• An individual may want to consider foot bunion surgery if the pain begins to interfere with daily activities. Also, if the individual experiences swelling or inflammation of the big toe, toe deformity, or toe stiffness, he might want to consider surgery.

Arthrodesis

• Arthrodesis is surgery for individuals who have severe arthritis and/or sever bunions. During this surgery, the damaged joint surfaces are removed. Afterward, the surgeon will either insert plates, screws or wires to hold the bones together until the area is healed.

Exostectomy

• Exostectomy is done by removing the bump from the toe joint. It is rarely done because it seldom corrects the cause of the bunion itself.

Repair of the Ligaments and Tendons

• In some cases, the tissues around the big toe may be too loose on one side and too tight on the other. This can cause the big toe to lean toward the others. A procedure is done to lengthen the tight tissues and shorten the loose ones.

Recovery

• The normal recovery period after having foot bunion surgery is at least six weeks, but it could take up to six months depending on the amount of bone and tissue that was affected. The individual can resume normal activities between six and eight weeks.