Types of Surgery for Bunions

Bunions occur when the big toe starts to slant toward the toe next to it. As a result, the big toe joint moves outward, causing a bump. The vast majority of bunions are caused by heredity, not by tight or ill-fitting shoes, though shoes can contribute to the problem. There are several types of surgery for bunions that do not respond to non-surgical treatment.

When to Have Surgery

• Doctors recommend trying non-surgical remedies before having bunion surgery. Orthotics (in shoe orthopedic devices), changing shoe sizes and changing shoe styles may relieve bunion pain. Chronic bunion pain and/or bunions that interfere with daily activities are reasons to consider surgery.

Osteotomy

• Osteotomy is the most common bunion surgery. In this procedure, the surgeon makes an incision near the toe joint and returns the bones to their original position. At the same time, the ligaments surrounding the toe joint may be brought into balance.

Arthrodesis

• Arthrodesis is a radical surgery for patients with severe bunions. In this operation, the damaged joint is cut away and replaced with either screws, wires or both. The "tight-rope" procedure is a form of arthrodesis.

Other procedures

• Small bunions may be treated by merely removing the growth on the outside of the foot, but this is usually a short-term solution. It may also be possible to correct some bunions through an arthroscopic incision into the side of the toe.

Considerations

• Most types of bunion surgery can be done in the physician's office under either local or general anesthesia. Still, there will be several weeks of recuperation during which the patient will need to gradually return to full activity.

Warnings

• Slightly more than one-tenth of bunion patients will not receive complete or long-lasting relief from bunion surgery. Infection is always a worry with surgery. There is the danger that bunion surgery may over-correct the problem and lead to other foot/walking problems.