What is a bunion?

Bunion is a protruding bump on the side of a big toe. It is just one abnormal feature of a complex of inter-related displacement of bones and muscles in the forefoot that is called "hallux valgus deformity complex" (Fig.2-3).

Hallux valgus means outward tilting of the big toe. Other associated forefoot conditions can be hammer toes, collapsed arches, calluses and even baby bunion of the little toe.

Fig.1 Mild Condition

Fig.2 Moderate Condition

Fig.3 Hallux Valgus deformity complex

Fig 4. Calluses

Reference information: www.bunioncenter.com

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Orthopaedist for diagnosis and treatment.

About the surgery(Part 2)

Q5: Do medical insurances cover bunion surgeries?

A: Yes, they do because bunion surgery is considered necessary for pain relief and function improvement of the foot. But it is always advisable to get written approval from your insurance company ahead of surgery.

Q6: Can same surgery be repeated if necessary?

A: Unlike some bone-breaking bunion surgeries, syndesmosis procedure does not burn any bridges and if necessary it can be repeated without any significant compromises.

Q7: How long does the surgery usually take?

A: About an hour.

Q8: Can the surgery be done under local anethesia?

A: Yes.

Reference information: www.bunioncenter.com

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Orthopedist for diagnosis and treatment.

About the surgery(Part 1)

Q1: Many people talk about bunion surgery being painful and a long recovery, 

is this true?

A: Yes, it is the case after certain types of bone-breaking surgery. 

Since Dr. Wu's syndesmosisprocedure does not need to break any bones, its pain is usually much less and for 1-2 days only. Its recovery period is much less incapacitating.

Q2: Can both feet be corrected at same time?
A: Yes, this is usually the preference by patients with bilateral bunion condition.

Q3: Are there any artificial implant such as screws and pins used?
A: No, the only foreign material used is the ordinary surgical sutures and they are dissolvable.

Q4: What are the possible complications?
A: Complications are possible but a lot fewer and milder in comparison to the "break-n-shift" surgeries. The possible complications are numbness around the wound (on top of great toe), wound infection, over-correction, early partial recurrence and stress fracture due to excessive walking and separation between second and third metatarsals. There has been no known late recurrence or transfer metatarsalgia.

Reference information: www.bunioncenter.com

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Orthopedist for diagnosis and treatment.

Bunion in youth

Young bunion patients can also expect to benefit from Dr. Wu's non-bone-breaking procedure but they must wait for their second metatarsal bones to finish growing, which is usually around 12 years old for girls and 15 years old for boys.

Reference information: www.bunioncenter.com

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Orthopedist for diagnosis and treatment.

How is it formed?

The most common misconception about bunion deformity is that it is made up of extra and deformed bones. Misguided removal and reshaping of fundamentally normal bones can be contra-productive. Bunion bump is due usually to very little extra and rarely any true bone deformity.

It is mostly due to a normal first metatarsal bone that has leaned over and protrude its end out to give rise the lump. This bony protrusion can rub against the side of shoe causing inflammation and swelling of the bursa lying between the bone and the skin. This inflamed bursa is called bunion bursitis. This swelling makes the displaced bone look and feel even bigger. It is also painful and it can often be mistaken for gout or extra bone.

Therefore, it is important to understand that bunion deformity is mostly caused by a normal first metatarsal bone that has become unstable and displaced. It is because its supporting ligaments have failed. Hence the main problem of a bunion condition is actually with ligaments not bone.



Reference information: www.bunioncenter.com

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Orthopaedist for diagnosis and treatment.