Most bunions could be dealt with without surgery. Be that as it may when nonsurgical medicines are insufficient, surgery can alleviate your pain, correct any related foot deformation, and help you continue your ordinary exercises. An orthopedic specialist can help you choose if surgery is the best choice for you. Whether you’ve quite recently started investigating treatment for bunions or have already chosen with your orthopedic specialist to have bunion surgery, this site will help you see all the more about this important procedure.
WHAT IS A BUNION?
A bunion is a problem that can form due to hallux valgus, a deformity of the foot. The expression “hallux valgus” is Latin and means a turning outward (valgus) of the big toe (hallux). The bone that joins the big toe (the first metatarsal) becomes more prominent on the internal edge of the foot. The resulting bump is the bunion and is composed of bone and delicate tissue.
WHAT CAUSES BUNIONS?
By a long shot the most widely recognized reason for bunions is the continued wearing of inadequately fitting shoes. Generally speaking, shoes with a limited, pointed toe box press the toes into an unnatural position. Bunions additionally may be brought on by arthritis or polio. Heredity can also play a part in bunion formation. Be that as it may these reasons represent just a small percentage of bunion cases.
A study by the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society found that 88 percent of ladies in the U.S. wear shoes that are excessively little and 55 percent have bunions. As a result, bunions are nine times more common in ladies than men.
CAN BUNIONS BE PREVENTED?
Bunions have the potential to become more than a little painful on the off chance that they are not taken care of in some way. At the same time not all bunions progress to the stage where pain occurs. Numerous bunion issues could be overseen without surgery. All in all, bunions that are not painful don’t need a surgical remedy. Thus, orthopedic specialists don’t suggest “preventive” surgery for bunions that don’t hurt; with fitting preventive consideration, they might never turn into an issue.
Bunion pain has the potential to be able to be successfully managed in the majority of cases by changing to shoes that fit appropriately and don’t squeeze the toes into an unnatural position. Your orthopedic specialist can provide for you more data about proper shoe fit and the sorts of shoes that would be best for you.
IS BUNION SURGERY FOR YOU?
In the event that nonsurgical treatment falls flat, you may need to consider foot surgery. Numerous studies have shown that 85 to 90 percent of patients who experience bunion surgery are fulfilled by the results. Reasons that you may benefit from bunion surgery usually include:
- Severe foot pain that restricts your everyday activities, including the simple act of walking and wearing sensible shoes. You may think that it’s hard to walk more than a couple of blocks (even in sports shoes) without severe pain.
- Perpetual big toe inflammation and swelling that doesn’t go away when treated with rest and antibiotics.
- Toe deformity — a drifting in of your big toe around the little toes.
- Toe stiffness — the inability to bend and/or straighten your toes.
- Failing to get the pain alleviation that you’re looking for via non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (though the effectiveness of such drugs varies significantly from person to person.)
- Failing to significantly improve with different medications, for example, a change in shoes and anti-inflammatory drugs.
As you investigate bunion surgery, be mindful that alleged “easy” or “insignificant” surgical techniques are regularly insufficient “snappy fixes” have the potential to do more harm than good. You should also make a note to be careful with people who (unrealistically) claim that surgery can provide you with a “perfect” foot. The objective of surgery is to soothe as much pain and correct as many deformities as possible and is not intended to be a procedure that is cosmetic.
TYPES OF BUNION SURGERY
Orthopedic surgeons use numerous different surgical methods to treat bunions, however, each of these procedures share a common objective and that is to realign the joint, soothe pain, and correct any deformities.
There is a wide variety of treatment options for bunions, the most fitting of which relies on upon the seriousness and nature of your bunion. Not all bunions are dealt with the same and different systems are utilized to accomplish satisfactory adjustment. Often these systems are combined. A portion of the treatments utilized include:
- Soft Tissue Balancing – Repair of the tendons and ligaments around the big toe
- Arthrodesis – Removal of damaged surfaces and fusion of the bone ends
- Exostectomy – Removal of the bony bump on the big toe
- Osteotomy – Cutting and realigning the bone in proper orientation
Dr. Samimi is an orthopedic surgeon with extensive training in both the diagnosis and treatment, surgical and nonsurgical, of the musculoskeletal framework, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves. He will survey the consequences of your assessment with you and talk about whether surgery would be the best option to alleviate your pain and deformity. Nonsurgical choices, including selecting appropriate shoes, will also be discussed. He will completely clarify the potential dangers and confusions of bunion surgery with you.
REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS ABOUT BUNION SURGERY
A detrimental factor in choosing whether to have bunion surgery is understanding what the procedure can and can not do. The great majority of patients who experience bunion surgery encounter a significant reduction of foot pain after surgery, alongside a noticeable improvement in the positioning of their big toe.
You should keep in mind that bunion surgery isn’t going to allow you to wear a shoe size that’s smaller than what you should be wearing, nor make it possible for you to wear narrow-pointed shoes. It is possible that you could have some permanent restrictions concerning shoe wear. You should strive to follow the proper and ideal recommendations for shoe fit and remember the fact that the primary cause of the formation of bunions and deformity are ill-fitting shoes. In the event that you come back to that kind of shoe wear, your bunion may return even after surgery.
YOUR SURGERY
Practically all bunion surgery is carried out on an outpatient premise, meaning you will go home that day and won’t need to stay in the hospital overnight. You will probably be asked to check in one or two hours before surgery.
After you’re admitted, a member of the anesthesia team will assess you. Most bunion surgery is performed under ankle anesthesia, which means that your foot is numb but you yourself are still awake. General or spinal anesthesia might likewise be utilized. The anesthesiologist will stay with you all through the technique to oversee different medications, if need be, and to verify that you are comfortable.
The surgery takes around one hour. Following it, you will be moved to the recovery room. You will be ready and allowed to go home in an hour or two.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS AFTER SURGERY
Less than 10 percent of patients experience any complications as a result of their bunion surgery. Possible complications can include but aren’t limited to infection of the surgery site and the surrounding area, reappearance of the bunion, nerve damage, and recurrence of pain.
In the event that these complications are to happen, they are treatable, however, they may influence the degree of your recuperation. Your orthopedic surgeon will clarify different choices in treating these complications.
DRESSING CARE
You will be released from the hospital with bandages holding your toe in its amended position. You additionally will wear a unique postoperative surgical shoe or cast to secure your foot in its corrected position. Your sutures will be uprooted around two weeks after surgery, yet your foot will require backing from dressings or a support for six to eight weeks. To guarantee legitimate healing, it is very important not to aggravate your dressings and to keep them dry. Interference with successful healing could result in a repeat of the bunion. Make sure to place a plastic bag over your foot while showering.
BEARING WEIGHT
Your orthopedic surgeon may encourage you to utilize a walker, stick, or props for the initial couple of days after surgery. You can progressively put more weight on your foot as you go through the healing process. Nonetheless, walk just short distances amid the initial couple of weeks after surgery. You will most likely have the capacity to drive again inside around a week.
SWELLING AND SHOE WEAR
You should look to keep your foot elevated however much as you can for the initial couple of days after surgery, and apply ice to combat any swelling and pain that might occur. You will experience some degree of swelling in your foot for around six months proceeding the surgery. After your dressings have been removed, wear just sports shoes or delicate leather oxford types of shoes for the first few months until the surgery has totally healed. Don’t wear fashion shoes, including high heels, until after at least six months have passed.
MEDICATION
Your orthopedic surgeon may prescribe antibiotics to prevent the possibility of infection for a few days after your surgery. Pain medications to soothe surgical discomfort will additionally be prescribed for a few days.
AVOIDING PROBLEMS AFTER SURGERY
Albeit uncommon, there is a possibility that complications can occur proceeding bunion surgery. You should contact your orthopedic surgeon if you experience one or more of the following:
Though uncommon, complications can occur following bunion surgery. Contact your orthopaedic surgeon if:
- Your dressing loosens, comes off or gets wet.
- Your dressing is moistened with blood or drainage.
- You develop side effects from postoperative medications.
- Fever.
- Chills.
- Persistent warmth or redness around the dressing.
- Increased or persistent pain.
- Significant swelling in the calf above the treated foot.
