Bunion Surgery (2024)

FAQs

Is my bunion bad enough for surgery? ›

You may need bunion surgery if you have severe foot pain that happens even when walking or wearing flat, comfortable shoes. Surgery may also be needed when chronic big toe inflammation and swelling isn't relieved with rest or medicines.

Q: Will bunion surgery fix my bunions permanently? A: Bunion surgery is an effective solution for most people as it has an approximate success rate of 85-90%.

The majority of patients are very happy with their bunion operation. Assuming the patient follows the postoperative instructions carefully, the outcomes are very good. There are risks of bunion surgery, however. Delayed bone healing can occur with any foot surgery, but this is rare.

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.

While this procedure is often used to reduce pain and improve the appearance of the foot, it can also lead to permanent changes in the natural shape and alignment of the bones in your foot/feet, which will affect the biomechanics of your feet and how they absorb pressures when you walk, stand, climb, run, etc.

There's no cut-and-dry rule regarding an age limit for bunion surgery.

Success rates and patient satisfaction

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.

If left untreated, a bunion can cause arthritis, especially if the joint in the big toe has sustained extensive, long-term damage.

Victoria Beckham suffered so intensely from bunion pain that she chose to undergo traditional bunion surgery as well. The British businesswoman, actress, model, singer, and fashion designer is famous for her designer footwear. She recently posted pictures of her post-surgery boot casts and crutches.

What is the new procedure for bunions? ›

Lapiplasty® is a new procedure using patented technology to correct not only the bunion, but its root cause. It straightens three dimensions of alignment of the metatarsal bone. First, it corrects the sideways lean of your metatarsal bone.

Are You a Candidate for Surgery? In general, if your bunion is not painful, you do not need surgery. Although bunions often get bigger over time, doctors do not recommend surgery to prevent bunions from worsening.

Patients will not be able to feel the screws as they are placed within the bone. Screws are titanium alloy which are inert to the human body in the vast majority of cases. In fact, bone grows around the screw, rather than rejecting it. They can be safely left in forever.

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.

In addition to pain and swelling, a bad bunion can hamper your mobility by affecting other toes, causing corns and calluses, and leading to hammertoe, when your toe develops a bend in the middle joint.

Bunions may not be as painful in the early stages of development but, over time, may develop into a severe disfigured foot deformity if it's not appropriately addressed. It can cause additional problems like blistering and overlapping toes. A painful bunion can make it challenging to wear shoes or even walk.