Bunion Surgery
This webpage will give you information about bunion
surgery. If you have any questions, you should ask your GP or other
relevant health professional.
What is a bunion?
A bunion is a bony lump on the side of the foot at the base of
the big toe (see figure 1).
The most common cause of bunions is footwear that does not have
enough width to fit the toes in their natural position.
They are occasionally associated with arthritis of the joint at
the base of the big toe.
Figure 1: Bunion on foot
What are the benefits of surgery?
Your big toe should be straighter, so your
foot should fit more comfortably in a shoe.
Are there any alternatives to surgery?
The main alternative to surgery is to adapt your shoes so that
they fit comfortably.
What does the operation involve?
A variety of anaesthetic techniques are possible. The operation
usually takes between half an hour and an hour.
The operation may involve releasing or tightening ligaments,
realigning your big toe and straightening your smaller toes.
What complications can happen?
1 General complications
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Infection of the surgical site (wound)
- Unsightly scarring
- Blood clots
- Difficulty passing urine
2 Specific complications of this operation
- Damage to nerves
- Problems with bone healing
- Loss of movement in the big toe
- Severe pain, stiffness and loss of use of the foot
(Complex Regional Pain Syndrome)
- Pain in the ball of the foot
- The deformity coming back
How soon will I recover?
You should be able to go home the same day or the day after.
For the first week, you will need to spend most of the time with
your leg raised so that the swelling settles.
Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities
as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, you should ask a
member of the healthcare team or your GP for advice.
It can take six weeks or longer before the swelling has gone
down enough for you to wear a normal soft shoe.
Summary
If you have a bunion that is causing pressure and pain, surgery
should straighten your big toe and make your foot fit more
comfortably into a normal shoe.
Acknowledgements
Author: Mr Stephen Milner DM FRCS (Tr. & Orth.)
Illustrations: Hannah Ravenscroft RM
This document is intended for information purposes only and
should not replace advice that your relevant health professional
would give you.
Copyright © 2011 EIDO Healthcare Limited
The operation and treatment information on this website is produced
by EIDO Healthcare Ltd and is licensed by Ramsay Health Care
UK. The intellectual property rights to the information belong
exclusively to EIDO Healthcare Limited.
You may not copy, print out, download or otherwise reproduce any
of the information other than for your personal, non-commercial
use.
The information should not replace advice that your relevant
health professional would give you.