What is hallux valgus surgery?
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- Hallux valgus surgery consists of correcting the deviation of the first metatarsal of the foot.
- Hallux valgus correction can be performed with or without osteotomy, depending on what the surgeon deems appropriate.
- Full recovery after hallux valgus surgery takes between three and four months, depending on the previous severity of the deformity.
What is hallux valgus?
Hallux valgus is a deviation that usually occurs in the first metatarsal of the foot. This causes the formation of a bony protrusion on the lateral side of the foot. Because of this deviation, the protruding area can become infected due to the friction and excess tension to which the skin is subjected at that point.
When this bulge becomes infected is when bunions appear, being a direct consequence of hallux valgus.
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In order to solve this problem, it is important to detect the tendency of the foot to suffer from this deviation at an early stage in order to try to correct it from the beginning and thus avoid future problems.
On the other hand, if the problem has already occurred, the best option is hallux valgus surgery. It is recommended not to take too long to perform this correction because in some cases this problem gradually degenerates causing much more serious deformities in the rest of the foot, which will require a much more complex and delicate intervention.
Hallux valgus correction can be performed with or without osteotomy.
Hallux valgus surgery with osteotomy
This intervention consists of correcting the deformity of the metatarsal of the foot in order to restore the normal shape of the foot. It is performed under local or regional anaesthesia.
The surgeon makes an incision in the hallux valgus area and then removes the part of the bone that protrudes, repositioning it to restore the foot's original shape. To do this, the doctor will place a material that promotes bone growth and fix the bones with a surgical screw.
The last step is to suture the wound and apply the appropriate dressing. The patient leaves the hospital the same day.
The operation lasts between 30 and 90 minutes.
Total recovery is between 3 and 4 months, but the patient will be able to support himself during the 3 to 6 weeks following the operation.
Hallux valgus surgery without osteotomy
The technique used to perform this operation is percutaneous surgery. This is only recommended for some cases of hallux valgus and it is the surgeon who decides whether to use it or not.
To carry it out, three small incisions are made around the area to be operated on, through which the surgeon will introduce the instruments and surgical material necessary to carry out the intervention. To do this, the surgeon normally uses a radiological device to see the inside of the foot.
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Once the problem is solved, the wounds are sutured and the foot is bandaged. After the operation, it will be necessary to come back after a week to fit an external prosthesis to keep the foot in the correct position.
Recovery in this case varies between one and a half and three months, depending on the patient.
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