Orthopaedic Surgery: Bunions

What are Bunions?

Bunions occur your big toe turns inwards. It does this because of a bony swelling at the base of the big toe joint. They can be very painful and inflamed. You can identify bunions by the inward slant of  the big toe and by the bony protrusion at the base of the big toe.

Bunions can rub against the joint causing inflammation and swelling, this is a condition called Bursitis.

There are a number of causes of Bunions. Commonly, they are caused by wearing shoes that do not fit  properly. Those with flat feet are also more prone to getting bunions.

Women are more prone to bunions than men because of high heeled shoes. These shoes put great strain on the front of the foot, increasing your risk of getting bunions.

Apart from the pain of the Bunion itself, walking can be awkward because of the pressure caused by your shoes. The constant rubbing of your shoes on your bunion can cause the skin around the joint to become very sore. In worst cases the area can become infected.

The movement of the big toe inwards also brings its own set of problems.

As the toes become very close together, other foot problems can start to develop such as ingrown toenails or corns.

Surgery can be done to remove the bony protrusion and straighten the toe to its normal position.

There are a number of different techniques that our orthopaedic Surgeon can deploy to successfully treat your bunion. The correct method for your particular case will be addressed at consultation.

Usually , surgery involves realignment of the toe( osteotomy) and repair of the ligaments and tendons. In some cases an implant  maybe indicated to replace part or the whole of the joint.

The procedure is carried out under general anesthetic although a special anesthetic to numb the foot is sometimes used. In some cases you can leave hospital on the same day with no need to stay overnight. Again, our Surgeon will determine the best course of recovery for you.

Your recuperation period is very important and it can take some weeks or even months for the foot to heal. The Surgeon may suggest special footwear to encourage healing in the first weeks after surgery. You may have special pins inserted for the first three to four weeks. You can usually wear normal footwear after about 6 weeks.

Following surgery you should feel much more comfortable when waking and your big toe should be in a normal position without squashing up the other toes anymore.

You should consider your footwear very carefully after surgery as bunions can return in the future if you continue to wear ill fitting shoes and high heels for too long a time.

Free Consultation - the next step

The next step is to arrange a free private consultation with our Mills & Mills Orthopaedic Surgeon at a centre near you. This is easy to do. Simply call us on the number provided and we will do the rest. We will be happy to chat with you on the phone and answer any questions that you might have. We know how important this procedure is to you. It is our aim to provide you with a service second to none.

We look forward to hearing from you.