Bunion

What is a bunion?

Well, it’s not an onion. In all seriousness, a bunion is a noticeable bony bump on the side of your big toe joint. If untreated, the condition will get progressively worse where the second toe overlaps or underlaps the big toe. The skin over the bunion might become red and sore.

What are the common causes of a bunion?

• Hereditary

• Ill-fitting shoes (i.e., high heels)

• Foot deformity such as arthritis or flatfoot

• Hypermobility/flexible foot type

• Foot injuries

• Rheumatoid

How can it be treated?

Some bunions can be treated under conservative methods through offloading pads, custom inserts, injections and NSAIDS. In more severe cases, surgery (‘bunionectomy’) is required. This type of surgery is one of the most common in our field. In most cases, after surgery, one can walk from Day 1 with the use of a protective boot and can expect to return to normal activity in 6-8 weeks.