When do you need bunion surgery?
The vast majority of people who have a bunion (hallux valgus) only think about having corrective surgery when they experience severe pain in the "bump", also called exostosis, which forms on the surface of the malformation and is usually accompanied by difficulties when wearing shoes.
These symptoms do not come alone, as bunions can cause problems in the forefoot, such as hammertoes, pain in the sole of the foot (metatarsalgia) and even inflammation of a nerve in the sole of the foot, which causes Morton's neuroma.
If the forefoot has several deformities, one of which is hallux valgus, this must always be operated on together with the rest of them, as the big toe is the one that maintains balance in the foot, preventing the rest of the foot from suffering deformities. Therefore, if the rest of the problems are repaired, but not the bunion, they will eventually reappear.
One of the most serious and frequent errors that occur is the removal of only the exostosis, since the deformity of the foot is caused by the deviation of the first metatarsal and the rest of the toe.
Removal of the lump (exostosis) alone would be ineffective, as it would reappear over time. To repair the bunion or hallux valgus, an osteotomy must be performed, which consists of cutting the metatarsal and the first phalanx and correcting its position until it is completely straightened. Then, of course, the exostosis must be removed.
It is also necessary to mention that nowadays it is not necessary to operate on both feet at the same time if the patient suffers deformity in both, as the new minimally invasive techniques allow recovery and postoperative pain to be minimal.
The most commonly used technique in these cases is percutaneous surgery, which allows the placement of screws, in the most serious cases, without the need for open surgery, with minimal scarring and allowing the patient to leave the hospital the same day.
In the past, the surgery was performed on both feet in the same procedure because bunion repair surgery was extremely painful, and so the patient only suffered once. Nowadays, it is always recommended to operate on one foot at a time to shorten rehabilitation times.
The use of these minimally invasive techniques, which can correct more than 85% of Hallux Valgus problems, represents a great advance in improving the quality of life of patients who place themselves in our hands, as long periods of inactivity due to recovery and rehabilitation are avoided, as well as postoperative pain.
Do you need bunion surgery?
Request a free and immediate appointment with our specialists in Traumatology
Medical disclaimer: All the published content in Operarme is intended to disseminate reliable medical information to the general public, and is reviewed by healthcare professionals. In any case should this information be used to perform a diagnosis, indicate a treatment, or replace the medical assessment of a professional in a face to face consultation. Find more information in the links below:
