Bunion Surgery

Bunions are a problem that many people have on their feet. A bunion occurs when the big toe begins to move permanently toward the second toe. This in turn causes the joint of the big toe to push outwards against the skin, forming the bunion. Bunions can be painful and become red and irritated, sometimes serious enough to require surgery.

Identification

The cause of bunions is a combination of factors. Someone can be predisposed to forming bunions because of their heredity. This, along with wearing tight-fitting shoes that put pressure on your toes specifically by forcing the big toe inward at the top, toward the second toe, make for bunions. Bunions can also be brought about by arthritis, being on your feet constantly, and injuries to the foot. Bunions can form on the little toe as well; these are known as bunionettes but are no less painful when they begin to hurt.

Significance

The size of the bunion matters little when it comes to the degree of pain it can produce. Surgery needs to be considered as an option when trying shoes with a wider toe box, inserts, or staying off your feet for a while fails to rectify the pain. Bunion surgery is recommended if the bunion actually makes it hard to walk and/or get your shoes on. If pain in the ball of your foot is present or if the bunion keep growing in size as the toe continues to move inward then surgery is needed.

Time Frame

Most bunions surgeries are performed as an out-patient procedure, allowing the person to go home the same day. Some patients opt to be completely sedated while others choose to have a local anesthetic. If a bunion surgery involves bones being cut and screws put in place then it may be as long as six weeks for the bones mend and as long as six months before you are recovered fully. However, in some instances, depending on the severity of the bunion, the recovery period will be much less. You can either be on crutches, in a special piece of footwear called a bunion shoe or in a cast.

Features

During bunion surgery the bones of the big toe will need to be realigned. This is accomplished by the surgeon cutting through the bone or by fusing bones together. The bones of the big toe are worked on in different areas in accordance to how bad the bunion is. Mild bunions are dealt with by working on the bones close to the big toe joint. Larger bunions need to be fixed farther down in their foot so the toe can be maneuvered into a straight position.

Prevention/Solution

The largest bunions require a procedure known as a Lapidus bunionectomy. During this operation the bone called the metatarsal is moved over and then held in place with at least one and often two surgical screws. The bone that is causing the bunion to bulge out is shaved down and removed, and the tendon is cut so that the toe can be repositioned. Then the screws are inserted to keep the toe in its correct position so that it can no longer move toward the second toe.

Resources

• More on bunion surgery