The Minimally Invasive Surgical Solution to Bunions
If you’re experiencing increasingly painful symptoms of a bunion
on your foot, it may be time to consider surgical options. The
Minimally Invasive Bunionectomy can correct your bunion with less
postoperative pain1 and
swelling2 than traditional bunion surgeries, which
means you can walk sooner and recover faster1,3—with
less visible scarring.4
For answers to your questions about the symptoms of a bunion,
what causes bunions, and how bunion surgery has changed for the
better, visit BunionPain.com. Get the facts about bunions
and your treatment options, view before and after bunion removal
surgery pictures, and discover how real patients found permanent
relief from bunion pain with the Minimally Invasive
Bunionectomy.
Lee
M, et al. Foot Ankle
Int. 2017;38(8):838-846.
Kheir E, et al. Foot Ankle
Int. 2015;36(3):248-252.
Lai
MC, et al. Foot Ankle Int. 2018;39(3):311-317.
Lam
P, et al. Foot Ankle
Clin. 2016;21(3):459-477.
Even though bunions are a common foot deformity, there are
misconceptions about them. Many people may unnecessarily suffer the
pain of bunions for years before seeking treatment.
What is a Bunion?
A bunion (also referred to as hallux valgus or hallux abducto
valgus) is often described as a bump on the side of the big toe.
But a bunion is more than that. The visible bump actually reflects
changes in the bony framework of the front part of the foot. The
big toe leans toward the second toe, rather than pointing straight
ahead. This throws the bones out of alignment – producing the
bunion’s “bump.”
Bunions are a progressive disorder. They begin with a leaning of
the big toe, gradually changing the angle of the bones over the
years and slowly producing the characteristic bump, which becomes
increasingly prominent. Symptoms usually appear at later stages,
although some people never have symptoms.
Causes
Bunions are most often caused by an inherited faulty mechanical
structure of the foot. It is not the bunion itself that is
inherited, but certain foot types that make a person prone to
developing a bunion.
Although wearing shoes that crowd the toes won’t actually cause
bunions, it sometimes makes the deformity get progressively worse.
Symptoms may therefore appear sooner.
Symptoms
Symptoms, which occur at the site of the bunion, may
include:
Pain or soreness
Inflammation and redness
A burning sensation
Possible numbness
Symptoms occur most often when wearing shoes that crowd the
toes, such as shoes with a tight toe box or high heels. This may
explain why women are more likely to have symptoms than men. In
addition, spending long periods of time on your feet can aggravate
the symptoms of bunions.
Diagnosis
Bunions are readily apparent – the prominence is visible at the
base of the big toe or side of the foot. However, to fully evaluate
the condition, the foot and ankle surgeon may take x-rays to
determine the degree of the deformity and assess the changes that
have occurred.
Because bunions are progressive, they don’t go away, and will
usually get worse over time. But not all cases are alike – some
bunions progress more rapidly than others. Once your surgeon has
evaluated your bunion, a treatment plan can be developed that is
suited to your needs.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Sometimes observation of the bunion is all that’s needed. To
reduce the chance of damage to the joint, periodic evaluation and
x-rays by your surgeon are advised.
In many other cases, however, some type of treatment is needed.
Early treatments are aimed at easing the pain of bunions, but they
won’t reverse the deformity itself. These include:
Changes in shoewear . Wearing the
right kind of shoes is very important. Choose shoes that have a
wide toe box and forgo those with pointed toes or high heels which
may aggravate the condition.
Padding . Pads placed over the area
of the bunion can help minimize pain. These can be obtained from
your surgeon or purchased at a drug store.
Activity modifications . Avoid
activity that causes bunion pain, including standing for long
periods of time.
Medications . Oral nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, may be
recommended to reduce pain and inflammation.
Icing . Applying an ice pack several
times a day helps reduce inflammation and pain.
Injection therapy . Although rarely
used in bunion treatment, injections of corticosteroids may be
useful in treating the inflamed bursa (fluid-filled sac located
around a joint) sometimes seen with bunions.
Orthotic devices . In some cases,
custom orthotic devices may be provided by the foot and ankle
surgeon.
When Is Surgery Needed?
If non-surgical treatments fail to relieve bunion pain and when
the pain of a bunion interferes with daily activities, it’s time to
discuss surgical options with a foot and ankle surgeon. Together
you can decide if surgery is best for you.
A variety of surgical procedures is available to treat bunions.
The procedures are designed to remove the “bump” of bone, correct
the changes in the bony structure of the foot, and correct soft
tissue changes that may also have occurred. The goal of surgery is
the reduction of pain.
In selecting the procedure or combination of procedures for your
particular case, the foot and ankle surgeon will take into
consideration the extent of your deformity based on the x-ray
findings, your age, your activity level, and other factors. The
length of the recovery period will vary, depending on the procedure
or procedures performed.
Want to learn
more about the bunions at Arp Foot & Ankle Clinic?
Call our Harrison, AR office at (870) 365-3668 or our Mountain Home, AR
office at (870) 425-7363 today to schedule an
appointment.