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Bunion Surgery
Is a surgical procedure right for you?
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Overview
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Bunions are a common foot condition impacting more than 3
million Americans every year
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In a lot of cases, bunions may be self-diagnosed but they
should be treated by a podiatrist near you
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Bunions are a chronic condition that could last a few years or
be a lifelong issue

Bunions may progressively get worse over time and surgery
may be the only option for relief
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What Are Bunions?
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Bunions are described as a bony protrusion on your big toe
joint
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It occurs when your big toe pushes against your second toe,
resulting in your big toe joint growing larger and protruding
from your foot
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It is possible to also develop smaller bunions, known as
bunionette, on your little toe joint
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Bunions may be painful and you may notice swelling or
redness around your toe joint
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What Causes Bunions and Bunion
Pain?
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Bunions and the related symptoms may be caused by a few
different factors including:

Your foot structure
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Arthritis
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Footwear that doesn’t fit correctly
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Prolonged stress on your foot
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Non-Surgical Bunion Treatment
Options
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Before your podiatrist suggests surgery to treat your bunions,
you should first try some non-surgical options for pain relief
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New footwear – Buy shoes that have more space for your toes
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Taping or splinting – Your podiatrist can tape or splint your foot
in its normal position
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Pain Medication & Injections – Certain medications and even
cortisone injections can help you manage the pain of bunions
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Special shoe inserts - The right shoe inserts can reduce your
symptoms by evenly disturbing pressure as you move your feet
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Determining if Surgery is Right for
You
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Bunions that aren’t causing significant pain likely won’t
require surgery
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Preventive care and non-invasive methods will be exhausted
first before going under the knife
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Surgery is recommended for bunions causing severe pain or
inflammation, limiting daily activities, or if you have a
deformity in your toes
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Surgery will not be performed for cosmetic reasons
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Bunion Surgery – Overview of
Procedures
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Arthrodesis
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Procedure involves removal of the surface of your affected toe
joint and insertion of specialized hardware to keep your bones in
place as you heal
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Recommended for severe cases or for people who have had
unsuccessful bunion surgeries in the past
Resection Arthroplasty
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Damaged portion of toe joint is removed by surgeon, leaving
more space between the bones in your toes
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This procedure is mostly performed on elderly patients
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Bunion Surgery – Overview of
Procedures (continued)
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Exostectomy
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Procedure where bony bump is removed from your affected toe
joint
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Normally performed with other corrective procedures
Osteotomy
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After bump has been removed, this procedure is done to realign
your toe joint by making tiny cuts in your bone
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The bones heal by inserting specialized hardware to keep your
joint balanced while straightening your bones