A bunion is a bony lump on the side of your foot at the base of your big toe.
Bunions tend to run in families. They are more likely if you have stretchy ligaments (hypermobility).
Wearing shoes increases the risk of getting bunions, especially if they have high heels, pointed toes or badly designed soles. Some people with bunions have arthritis in the big toe joint, but many people have no other joint problems.
What are the benefits of surgery?
Your big toe should be straighter, so your foot should fit more comfortably in a normal shoe.
Are there any alternatives to surgery?
Putting padding over the bunion or a spacer between your big toe and second toe can help give you relief from the pain caused by the bunion rubbing.
Using wide-fitting shoes from a good-quality shoe shop may be enough. If not, the orthotics (surgical appliances) department at the hospital will be able to give you advice about special shoes.
What will happen if I decide not to have the operation?
Your surgeon can ask an orthotist to see you. They are experienced in treating foot problems using insoles and shoe modifications.
Bunions do not get better without surgery. Most bunions slowly get worse with time. Wearing sensible footwear will usually prevent them from getting rapidly worse. The skin over the bunion can become inflamed where it rubs on the inside of your shoe. Sometimes your skin can get infected and cause an ulcer. Aching in other parts of your foot is common but this is caused by other related problems with how your foot works rather than the bunion itself.
The operation usually takes 30 minutes to an hour.
Your surgeon will discuss with you which of the following procedures the operation is likely to involve.
Removing the bunion.
Releasing the tight ligaments and tightening stretched ligaments.
Cutting and realigning the bones of your big toe.
Stiffening a joint (arthrodesis).
Straightening one or more of your other toes.
How can I prepare myself for the operation?
If you smoke, stopping smoking now may reduce your risk of developing complications and will improve your long-term health. Nicotine is known to prevent bones from healing.
Try to maintain a healthy weight. You have a higher risk of developing complications if you are overweight. Regular exercise should help to prepare you for the operation, help you to recover and improve your long-term health. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice.
Speak to the healthcare team about any vaccinations you might need to reduce your risk of serious illness while you recover. When you come into hospital, practise hand washing and wear a face covering when asked.
What complications can happen?
Some complications can be serious and even cause death.
General complications of any operation
bleeding
infection of the surgical site (wound)
allergic reaction to the equipment, materials or medication
blood clot in your leg
blood clot in your lung
difficulty passing urine
chest infection
Specific complications of this operation
damage to nerves
problems with bone healing
loss of movement in your big toe
severe pain, stiffness and loss of use of your foot
pain in the ball of your foot
over-correction of your big toe
the deformity coming back
Consequences of this procedure
pain
unsightly scarring of your skin
How soon will I recover?
You should be able to go home the same day or the day after.
Spend most of the time during the first week with your leg raised so that the swelling settles.
It can take 6 weeks or longer before the swelling has gone down enough for you to wear a normal soft shoe.
Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice.
The swelling often takes up to 6 months to go down completely.
Summary
If you have a bunion that is causing pressure and pain, surgery should straighten your big toe and make your foot fit more comfortably into a normal shoe.
Your healthcare provider may recommend bunion surgery if you have painful, bony bumps called bunions. Correcting bunions with surgery can decrease your pain and help you regain foot function. Most people who have bunion surgery recover well and can resume their usual activities in six to 12 weeks.
Traditionally, bunion surgery can be quite painful and involve a long recovery. However, some patients can benefit from newer, minimally invasive techniques that have significant advantages.
Bunion surgery generally has a high success rate, with approximately 90-95% of patients experiencing positive outcomes. Most patients report long-term pain relief and improved quality of life, with 92.8% indicating an enhancement in their overall well-being.
Bunionectomies before the age of 18 can be trickier because the bone plates may still be shifting and accommodating. They should only be done by a specialist in pediatric podiatry. Before the age of 35, your risk of recurrence is much higher, and you may need a second surgery later on.
It's not uncommon for bunions to come back, even if you've had a bunionectomy. In fact, they're more likely to recur if your bunion surgery was simply to shave down the bone, as opposed to a procedure like a lapidus bunionectomy or other method of realigning the bones of the foot.
Bunion surgery costs depend on the type of surgery you have, where you have the procedure, your health insurance or Medicare coverage, and more. Generally, if your bunion pain is leading to physical limitations, and surgery is deemed medically necessary by your podiatrist, insurance will cover the procedure.
Prolonged swelling, infection, and deep vein thrombosis can result from this treatment. Some of the other possible complications include over- or under-correction, loss of correction, joint stiffness, and nerve entrapment.
In most cases, bunions can be treated nonsurgically. One of the podiatrists from our team can examine your bunion(s) and recommend a conservative treatment which includes one or more of the following: Custom shoe orthotics (inserts) that relieve pressure on the joint and align your weight in a more beneficial way.
Other complications may include recurrence of the bunion, nerve damage, and continued pain. The surgery may also result in overcorrection of the problem, in which the big toe extends away from the other toes.
If left untreated, a bunion can cause arthritis, especially if the joint in the big toe has sustained extensive, long-term damage. Bunions may cause the cartilage in the joint to deteriorate. While bunions can be remedied through surgery, arthritis and the possibility of chronic pain are not curable.
The signs and symptoms of a bunion include: A bulging bump on the outside of the base of your big toe. Swelling, redness or soreness around your big toe joint. Corns or calluses — these often develop where the first and second toes rub against each other.
Patients commonly ask if they are too old for bunion surgery. The answer to this complex question is largely based on individual risk factor assessment. Advanced age alone does not preclude bunion surgery but certain age-related conditions can increase the likelihood of compromised healing and poor outcome.
In general, it takes about six weeks after bunion surgery for the bone to fully mend. But that doesn't mean you'll be laid up in bed for a month and a half. With a bunionectomy procedure like Bunionplasty®, created by Dr. Blitz, patients can walk the same day as their surgery.
When Can I Walk After Bunion Surgery? Following a bunionectomy, patients are to stay home and rest with their feet elevated for roughly three days. After that, most patients can perform regular daily activities such as resuming work or going out to paint the town. However, restrain from being on your feet for too long.
In general, it takes about six weeks after bunion surgery for the bone to fully mend. But that doesn't mean you'll be laid up in bed for a month and a half. With a bunionectomy procedure like Bunionplasty®, created by Dr. Blitz, patients can walk the same day as their surgery.
Putting any weight on an operated foot or ankle can damage the repair that's been done. Bones need time to heal. Plates or screws that may have been added during surgery need the bones to heal around them. Adding weight too soon can interrupt this important internal healing process.
Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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