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.
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