About 30% of Americans have bunions. Bunions often start as a minor annoyance that can be managed with ice, pain medication, or changes in footwear. In some cases, however, they cause persistent pain that affects mobility and quality of life. When this happens, surgery is often recommended.
Our team at South Denver Podiatry in Littleton, Colorado, specializes in bunion surgery. Read on to learn why bunions form, signs that conservative treatment isn’t enough, and what to expect during surgery.
A bunion is a bony bump that forms on the outside edge of your big toe joint. It may become red or swollen over time. Bunions form when the big toe shifts out of alignment, causing the joint to protrude. Contributing factors include certain types of shoes, walking pattern (gait), or medical conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis.
People of all ages get bunions, but they’re most common in women. Bunions also tend to run in families. About 70% of people with bunions have a parent who had them as well.
Many bunions respond to conservative treatments, such as ice, orthotics, pain relievers, or wearing shoes with wider toe boxes. However, certain symptoms indicate you may need surgery, including:
If you experience any of these symptoms, schedule a consultation. Prompt treatment can prevent the bunion from worsening and help you get back on your feet.
Your podiatrist asks about your symptoms, performs a comprehensive exam, and orders diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays, to assess the alignment of the bones in your foot. If it’s determined you’re a candidate for foot surgery, your provider will develop a personalized treatment plan to realign your toe, reduce pain, and restore joint function.
Depending on your needs, we might recommend:
An osteotomy is the most common type of bunion surgery. Your provider makes small incisions around your big toe joint, realigns the bones, and inserts rods or screws to hold them in place.
We may recommend this surgery if your bunion is caused by arthritis. During the procedure, your provider removes the damaged portion of your big toe joint and uses screws to hold the bones together. This allows the bones to fuse over time, reducing pain and inflammation.
This option may be recommended if you have a severe bunion. It involves fusing two of your foot bones to realign your big toe joint and prevent it from moving out of place.
This procedure is typically used for minor bunions. It involves shaving off the bunion and is usually done alongside an osteotomy, since removing the bump alone doesn’t correct the underlying misalignment.
Thanks to advances in surgical techniques, most of these procedures are minimally invasive and performed on an outpatient basis, so you don’t have to stay overnight in the hospital.
If you have a bunion that’s painful or affecting your mobility, surgery may be the right solution. If you’re ready to explore your options, contact us. Call our Littleton, Colorado, office or book your appointment online.
