Many bunions can be treated without bunion surgery, but when bunion treatment is not successful surgery is the best option. By going through with bunion surgery you can fix the problem in your feet, reduce pain and avoid future bunions from forming. If bunions are left untreated, the bunion can progress causing significant pain to you during walking or other exercise.
What is Bunion surgery?
Bunion surgery corrects the joint deformity that happens when you wear ill-fitting shoes. As the pressure on the joint increases due to the shoe and your motion, your toe begins to rotate inwards causing pain at the joint. Because the joint sticks out, bunion surgery can also be referred to as hammertoe surgery.
The pain of the bunion limits your activity level, so bunion surgery can straighten the toe and eliminate the pain at the joint. You can return to normal activity levels with no pain. Bunions can cause chronic big toe inflammation. This inflammation increases the size of your toe, making your shoes put even more pressure on the toe and exacerbating the problem. Bunion surgery realigns the joint to reduce the risk of further foot damage. While you will be limited for a while after the surgery, in the end you should experience a return to a normal lifestyle that is worth the short-term issue of limited motion.
Types of Bunion surgery
Repair of the Tendons and Ligaments is one type of bunion surgery. When the tissue is too tight on one side of the toe, it pulls the joint out of alignment. In these cases the procedure aims to lengthen the tight tissue and shorten the loose tissue in order to provide a balance, putting the big toe back in line.
Arthrodesis removes damaged surfaces and requires the insertion of wires, plates or screws to hold the newly smoothed surfaces together. The wires, pins or screws are temporary as they can be removed once the joint heals. This surgery tends to be for bunions that are a result of calcium deposits or other hard bone anomalies that push the joint out of alignment.
Exostectomy removes the bump at the end of the toe joint. This is a specific type of bunion, formed by an enlarged bone in the big toe. This type of bunion or hammertoe is not one associated with the drifting of the big toe and might not cause any pain from day to day. This deformity tends to be fixed by bunion surgery in order to help shoes fit better or for simple aesthetics.
Resection arthroplasty removes the damaged portion of the joint during bunion surgery and leaves behind a flexible scar joint. This tends to be the preference for patients who are older or have arthritis as it allows for the toe to function without building anymore scar tissue in the joint itself.
Osteotomy is the most invasive of the bunion surgeries. This requires cutting and physically realigning the joint and determining how to best secure the toe so it stops floating towards the others. This procedure tends to have a long recovery process and you will find yourself unable to bear weight for a lengthy period of time.
Preventing Bunions
While some bunions cannot be prevented, you can do a few things to help avoid developing bunions. Your shoes should not add pressure on the tip of your toe that pushes inward. While it might seem like just a little pressure, as you walk and place your weight on your foot you are building extensive torque along the joint. Once the tendons begin to stretch because of the pressure, the toe begins to move accordingly. Pointed shoes often result in the need for bunion surgery.
Make sure your shoes are large enough. Fashion often dictates fancy shoes that do not accommodate your toes. Because of this pressure, any of your toes can begin to turn at the joint. While it might not seem very painful at first, as the joint becomes more out of line, the pain begins to set in. It can even result in poor posture when walking and moving that then results in other problems such as back pain. By finding shoes with a wide toe box you will reduce the pressure on your feet and likely avoid any need for bunion surgery.
What to Expect After Your Bunion surgery
Most bunion surgery is done as an outpatient procedure, meaning you will quickly go home. Often it will only take a few hours and you will be on your way back to your life. When you get home you must be sure to change the dressing around the surgical area. You will be given a walking boot to use in order to ensure your shoes do not put pressure on or infect the open wound. At first you might need to use a walker or crutches for a few days. This helps reduce the pressure on the incision and allows it to heal as well as keeps you from putting pressure on the joint.
You should continue to wear the boot for as long as your foot is swollen. Trying to shove your foot back into constrictive shoes will only damage the toe and potential reverse the success of the surgery.
No matter what type of bunion surgery you choose, you will be pleased with the results. By fixing your toe you will be able to lead a more active life. By studying bunion surgery, you can find the right doctor and procedure for your lifestyle.