Bunion removal foot surgery
ASSOC. DR. TULUHAN YUNUS EMRE Bunion Adversely Affects Not Only Your Aesthetic Appearance, But Also Your Health. Pointed toes and heels can trigger your discomfort.
Hallux valgus
It is a disease affecting the joint between the 1st toe and the 1st comb bone. This swelling and bulge in the joint is called "bunion". In fact, this is the painful protrusion and deformity of the toes, which are mainly seen in women and negatively affect social life. This deformity actually has a more complex structure than the swelling and protrusion. This disease is not seen in cultures that do not wear shoes. While it is seen in 40% of women, there is a genetic predisposition as high as 70%. It is more common in women who wear high heels and pointed toe shoes for many years. Wide shoes, which provide plenty of space for the toes, reduce the chance of developing this deformity and also help reduce the discomfort caused by bunion if it is developed.
Hallux valgus can manifest with pain and swelling
Hallux is the medical term used for the 1st finger and valgus is an anatomical term that indicates that the deformity is directed outward from the midline. Therefore, hallux valgus is an orthopedic disorder in which the big toe is directed towards the outside of the foot. If this deformity becomes severe, secondary changes occur that increase the standing problem. Irritation, redness and swelling develop first. As time passes, the tissue here thickens and a larger protrusion occurs, causing the shoe to rub. Many problems in the foot are caused by abnormal pressure and friction. As time passes, complaints arise due to the skin and soft tissue being caught between the hard bone inside and the hard shoe outside. Any bumps in the bone make the situation worse. The skin responds to constant pressure and friction by creating "callus tissue". The soft tissue underneath reacts by thickening. These structures cause irritation and pain in the patient. To reduce this pain, it is necessary to reduce the pressure. This is possible by reducing the pressure created by the shoe from the outside or surgically removing the bone protrusion inside. Complaints due to hallux valgus are usually on a bulge called a bunion. Bunion is painful. Severe hallux valgus deformity also causes cosmetic problems. Especially female patients have difficulties in finding suitable shoes for their feet. As the deformity increases, the second toe rises upward and is exposed to pressure and friction in the shoe, causing pain in patients.
See an orthopedist
The diagnosis is made after a careful, detailed history and clinical examination. Information is obtained about the patient's shoe choices. Foot X-rays are taken. The angles between bones are measured by your doctor, which helps determine the method of treatment with x-rays. Hallux valgus treatment begins with the selection and wearing of shoes suitable for the feet. In the early stages of the disease, replacing pointed shoes with wide front shoes can reduce the patient's complaints. Wide shoes are helpful in reducing pain by reducing the pressure on the bunion. In addition, it can be aimed to reduce pressure and pain with bunion pads and rollers between fingers.
Definitive results can be obtained with surgical method
If all non-surgical methods cannot relieve the patient's pain or if the disease is diagnosed at an advanced stage, surgical treatment options are evaluated. More than 100 methods have been described in hallux valgus surgery.
If we count the basic principles
Bunionectomy (removing the bunion): If the hallux valgus is in the early stage, only removal of the bunion can be effective. With the incision made over the bunion, the underlying bone tissue is cut with the appropriate orthopedic material. The bone is shaved.
Metatarsal Osteotomy (Correction of the bone): Generally, bunionectomy alone is not sufficient to correct the deformity in hallux valgus surgery. Metatarsal osteotomy (correction of the comb bone with incisions) operations may be required. An incision is made in the bone and the angle that creates the deformity in the bone and joint is corrected. Patients are followed up with postoperative bandage or plaster treatment. On the first day after the operation, the patient is walked on crutches. It is not allowed to step on the operated foot. Sutures are removed on the 15th day of the operation. Control graphs are taken. If there is bone union in 6 weeks, metal nails are removed and the patient is allowed to press. This recovery period of about 6 weeks should be considered as a small problem besides your big complaints such as the negative effects of the disease in your social life and pain all the time.
