Learn about
Bunions
What is a bunion?
A bunion, medically known as hallux valgus, is a bony bump that forms at the base of the big toe joint. It occurs when the big toe pushes against the adjacent toe, causing the joint to stick out and become enlarged and painful. Bunions can develop due to various factors, including genetics, wearing ill-fitting shoes, or certain foot conditions. They can cause discomfort, difficulty walking, and may worsen over time if left untreated.
| What are the symptoms?
In the early stages of developing a bunion, symptoms are mild. Your doctor will categorize its severity using x-ray imaging. As it progresses, you might struggle with shoe wear and feel discomfort during daily activities. Surgery may be needed if it impacts other parts of the foot. Without treatment, symptoms worsen, potentially causing further foot deformities.
Common signs and symptoms of a bunion
Limited mobility of
the big toe.
Continual or occasional discomfort when wearing shoes.
Inflammation, redness,
and tenderness near
the joint of the big toe.
A protruding bump
near the base of the
big toe.
Corns or calluses
caused by repeated
friction of the toes.
Am I a candidate?
Fill in the symptom questionnaire to find out
| How can it be treated?
Most bunions are easily treated by changing to a wider shoe, getting a larger size does not work well since the shoe will slip off the heel too easily. if shoe modifications and living with the pain does not help then minimal incision bunion correction is a great option.
Nonsurgical treatments
- Spacious, comfortable footwear to alleviate pressure on your toes
- Bunion pads, cushions or bracing to cushion to help discomfort
- Pain-relief medications like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium
- Padded shoe inserts to evenly distribute pressure and prevent worsening symptoms
- Apply Ice to reduce inflammation and soreness, but consult your doctor if you have decreased sensation or circulation in your feet before doing so
MIS Bunion surgery
MIS bunion surgery uses much smaller incisions than the open procedures which leads to less scar tissue, risk of infection, joint stiffness and leads to a quicker recovery.
1. The incisions needed for an MIS bunion correction.
2. The incisions needed for an MIS bunion correction.
MIS Bunion surgery results
Before
After
| Frequently Asked Questions
How bad is the pain after MIS bunion surgery?
The pain from open bunion surgery has been compared to some of the most painful major orthopedic surgeries done, the pain from the MIS bunion surgery is usually about a 3/10 but can get as high as 5/10 which is still considered mild for surgery.
If I have MIS bunion surgery how long do I need to be off my feet?
The best thing about MIS bunion surgery is that the patient doesn’t need to be off there feet or in cast or boot. The surgery is designed to allow you to walk of the surgery foot immediately. Walking actually helps healing, its just important to ice your foot when not walking throughout the day.
When can I expect to return to work?
Depending on your job, most patients go back to work after 2 weeks. If your job requires you to be in a normal shoe before going back to work then you will need to wait until your 4 weeks has been completed before going back to work.
When can I start exercising again?
Normal walking is encouraged immediately with breaks for icing the foot intermittently. Low impact activities like ellipticals, bike and swimming can be started at 5 weeks, and full impact running or jumping at 8-12 weeks.
Will I have to have more surgery in a few years to fix it again?
The MIS bunion surgery technique has been around since 2011 and all studies have shown the recurrence rate to be very low, close to zero. The open bunion surgery techniques can have recurrence rates as high as 20%.