Is It Finally Time To Consider Bunion Surgery? (2024)

FAQs

When should bunion surgery be considered? ›

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.

Surgery may be right for you if your toe is too painful, if your bunion is very big, or if you can't easily do your daily activities. It's not clear how well bunion surgery works or which kind of surgery is best.

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.

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.

One potential downside of bunion surgery is the risk of complications such as recurrence of the bunion, nerve damage, and continued pain, as well as the possibility of overcorrection leading to the big toe extending away from the other toes.

Good candidates for bunion surgery commonly have: Significant foot pain that limits their everyday activities, including walking and wearing reasonable shoes. They may find it hard to walk more than a few blocks (even in athletic shoes) without significant pain.

Bunions can worsen over time and become painful if your shoes are not an adequate width for your foot. High-heeled shoes also influence the development of a bunion by increasing pressure on the forefoot. As bunions become worse, they can become painful or the lesser toes can become painful.

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.

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.

Complications of foot and ankle surgery can include infections, swelling and stiffness, and wound haematoma (bleeding). If you're generally healthy the risk of a serious complication from an operation is very small. Every possible care is taken to prevent complications, but in a few cases these do happen.

How long is bed rest after bunion surgery? ›

Individuals who undergo traditional bunion surgery can first expect to take several days off for the surgery and the subsequent hospital stay. Then, for the next two weeks, they'll be unable to walk or get off their feet. Finally, they will likely have to wear a cast or use crutches for the following several months.

Depending on the procedure and mobility limitations, pre-op discussions about a patient's home situation and potential support group may be necessary. For the most part, an active, healthy patient can recover from bunion surgery regardless of age.

Other non-surgical treatments for bunions include injections of cortisone or oral anti-inflammatory medication and wearing custom-made shoes that accommodate the bunion deformity. Both help provides comfort and relieve pain, but do not reduce the abnormal angles that underlie the bunion deformity.

Symptoms often progress as the bunion becomes more severe with a more prominent bump and big toe deviation under or over the smaller toes. However, the treatment of bunions is more complex than removing the bony growth you can visually see. Surgical correction is necessary to get you back on your feet.

Bunion surgery is more successful when it's performed at an earlier stage before the big toe joint has become excessively deformed, so oftentimes the recommendation will be for surgery.

Hallux valgus surgery is not considered minor surgery, and it is important that patients understand the risks and complications and discuss them with their surgeon.