Bunion Surgery: Purpose, Procedure, and Benefits and Side Effects

A bunion surgery also known as bunionectomy is a treatment of correcting a bony growth that develops near the base of your big toe, where it joins the first metatarsal bone of your foot. Bunions or hallux valgus can cause excruciating pain. Bunions are most frequently caused by wearing shoes that are either small or too narrow in the toe area. One could describe this as a pressure-response effect. Bunions are more common in women than in men.

There are several procedures to treat a bunion deformity. If nonsurgical treatment options don't relieve your symptoms, a bunionectomy is required that repositions the big toe to relieve pain and improve function. Bone and soft tissue both contribute to the bunion, a foot deformity.

A bunion surgery might be required if you are;

• Unable to do daily tasks or activities because of your pain
• Can not go a few blocks without experiencing excruciating foot pain
• Even after taking rest and medication, your big toe is still sore and swollen
• Your big toe cannot be bent or straightened.

If nonsurgical methods are ineffective for you, surgery might be required. Bunions are treated surgically using a variety of techniques

Also known as bunionectomy, during this procedure your surgeon removes the noticeable bulge at the toe joint. This method is generally combined with osteotomy and soft tissue healing by healthcare professionals to realign the toe as eliminating the bunion itself does not straighten the joint. Also this procedure is rarely and only used for the small bunions.

This is the most common surgical procedure to treat bunions. During this procedure a few tiny incisions are made in the bones by your surgeon. The surgeon will then correct your big toe joint using screws or pins.

Inflammation brought on by arthritis can occasionally cause bunions. Your surgeon will remove any arthritic areas of the big toe joint during arthrodesis joint fusion. In order to keep the bones together while they recover, your surgeon will then insert screws into the toe. This procedure is done to correct the most severe bunions.

During this kind of bunionectomy, the physician cuts away joint deterioration to provide more room between the bones.

The strength in the big toe may be reduced by a resection arthroplasty. As a result, it is often performed on elderly patients, those who have arthritis that an arthrodesis may not be able to address, and those who have tried and failed with other bunion surgery procedures.

A surgeon may release tight tendons and ligaments or tighten loose ones if tight or loose soft tissues are to blame for the bunion's development. Usually, this procedure is done in addition to others.

The majority of patients who undergo bunion surgery report significant pain relief. The procedure also enhances alignment of the big toe. After the surgery you can walk more effortlessly with your perfectly aligned big toe.

Some bunions can require surgery, but only if it hampers with your walking or the pain is excruciating. A surgery is done to relieve the pain and repair the deformities brought on by a bunion when all the other medications, therapies and treatments fail. As the risks and complications of bunion surgery may outweigh the advantages, it is advisable to undergo surgery only if your bunion hurts or interferes with your walk and not because you don't like how the bunion makes your foot look.

The following are some potential dangers of bunion surgery:

• Recurrence of bunions
• Persistent ache or stiffness
• Irritation or infection
• Nerve damage
• Wound-healing difficulties

Your doctor will talk about the risks of bunion surgery. Complications following bunion surgery are uncommon and typically manageable. Your rehabilitation could take longer than you anticipate if you do encounter any difficulties.

Speak with a reputable healthcare professional of Pristyn care before the procedure to receive detailed instructions on how to get ready for the surgery. Your medical professional might be able to provide you with information about the pre- and post-surgery preparation and treatment that may include;

• Information of any medications you are taking, including over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements, should be disclosed to your doctor. These drugs will likely need to be stopped in the days leading up to the surgery
• If you take aspirin or other blood-thinning medications, you may need to discontinue taking them a few days before surgery
• To lower the chance of infection, give up smoking at least 4 weeks ahead
• Switch to healthy diet weeks before undergoing the surgery
• If you've had any recent operations, have allergies, let your doctor know
• Based on the timing of the surgery, your doctor will decide how long you should fast, or refrain from eating or drinking anything. To prevent any problems, strictly follow their instructions
• Exercise regularly, to encourage faster recovery
• Your doctor will advise you to arrive one to two hours early on the day of your appointment

The cost of bunion surgery heavily depends on where you get it. Generally it varies between INR 60,000 to INR 1,00,000 depending on your foot condition. If it's through insurance, your service provider will handle the majority of it. You will have to pay a small bit more if your insurance plan requires co-pays. Also as hospitals have different prices, a huge corporate hospital will undoubtedly charge more due to the level and the quality of care provided in comparison to a smaller hospital that will still offer the same level of care but at a low cost. Moreover, it also depends on the surgeon and many other factors as no surgery has a generalized fixed price and can be custom quoted based on the patients' requests.

Your healthcare professional will provide you the following instructions as you recover at home;

• Do not place any weight on your big toe
• Elevate your foot to lessen swelling
• Keep your bandages and wound dry
• Watch for any sign of infection near your incision including a fever over 101° F, redness, swelling, discharge, or pain that gets worse
• Pay attention to certain changes such as swelling or pain where the procedure was done
• Follow the directions on your prescription for pain medication
• You might need to ask someone to help you with domestic tasks or meal preparation for the first two weeks following surgery

Consult your physician about the steps you may take to guarantee that your foot heals properly. After surgery, take care of your feet by staying away from footwear with a restricted toe box to help prevent future bunions. Additionally, if a pronated (flatter) foot type was the original cause of the bunion, an orthotic may be beneficial in avoiding recurrence. If equinus (tight calf muscles) caused the bunion, stretching may also be beneficial.

What we consume greatly influences how quickly and effectively we recover from orthopedic surgery. Surgery triggers a stress reaction in the body that stimulates the metabolism and increases our demand for calories, in addition to our body's increased calorie requirements for recovery. Complications are more likely to occur if the correct foods aren't used to power our recovery. Here are a few food options that might help you with post-operative recovery;

• Soy
• Dairy
• Beans
• Eggs
• Cottage cheese
• Milk
• Yogurt
• Almond milk
• Poultry
• Fish
• Meat
• Nuts
• Chia seeds
• Orange juice
• Citrus fruits
• Vegetables
• Spinach
• Kale
• Berries
• Potatoes

While certain foods aid in the healing process following orthopedic surgery, other foods may counteract their beneficial effects. Avoiding foods that deplete your body of nutrients, such as caffeine, alcohol, excessive sugar, and salt, will help your bones repair more quickly. Try to get your nutrients through food rather than supplements, as food aids in improved absorption, unless your doctor specifically advises you to do otherwise.

Bunion surgery is not only safe but is highly recommended to help the patients with chronic pain and difficulty in performing a simple and basic task like walking. The procedure is generally done under local anesthesia and requires very few cuts to treat the deformed joint. Also, bunion surgery has very few risks and complications involved, hence making it one of the safest orthopedic surgeries.

Although bunion surgery in itself isn’t a painful procedure yet it can result in little to moderate pain after the procedure for which pain management is available to help the patients. Also, as bunion surgery is done under local anesthesia, patients don’t feel any pain during the procedure. However, six weeks following surgery, you will experience pain and swelling that gradually subside. As long as six months to a year, you can have some mild discomfort and swelling. Following surgery, you will require wearing a cast or a particular kind of shoe for at least 3 to 6 weeks in order to protect your toe and keep it in the proper position.

​​​While full recovery from bunion surgery can take anywhere between four and six months, healing of surgical wounds following bunion surgery typically takes six to eight weeks. If an osteotomy and fixation are performed, the recovery period could last up to 4 weeks. The bone should begin to unite at that point.

You'll need to take care of your foot for the first two weeks after surgery by wearing a surgical boot or cast. Avoid getting water on your stitches.

Once the cast or boot is removed, you'll put on a brace to support your foot as it heals. At first, you won't be able to put any weight on your foot; crutches will be required. You will start to restore foot function in six to twelve weeks. You can gradually begin putting some weight on your foot while supporting yourself with a walker or crutches.Your foot's strength and range of motion will be restored with the use of specific physical therapy exercises. After roughly three months, you will be able to resume your activities. After surgery, swelling could persist for six to nine months.

You must plan post-operative appointments with your doctor in advance to ensure that your foot heals appropriately.

Like any other surgery, bunion surgery also has some side-effects that may include;

• Infection
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Toe joint stiffness
• Delayed, misguided or failed bone healing
• Peripheral nerve damage
• Persistent inflammation and pain of the foot.

Here are some tips that may help you with your bunion surgery recovery:

• Rest and elevate your leg and foot to prevent any movement
• Use ice packs on the foot and toe to reduce swelling
• Take painkillers for discomfort
• Use antibiotics to avoid infection
• Put on a surgical boot for a few weeks
• Use Knee walker or crutches for a few weeks
• When taking a shower, keep your incision and sutures dry by covering the foot with a plastic bag
• Wear shoes with wide toe boxes to lessen pain and stop recurrence
• After surgery, refrain from donning high heels for at least six months
• Regarding exercises and procedures for rehabilitation, consult a physical therapist.

If you have painful bony bumps known as bunions, your doctor may advise bunion surgery. Surgery to treat bunions can relieve your pain and restore some foot function. The majority of patients who undergo bunion surgery heal quickly and can return to their regular activities in six to twelve weeks.