MINIMALLY INVASIVE BUNION SURGERY

Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery

Our Bunion Surgeon, Dr. Bamidele Olupona, Specializes In Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery.

WHAT IS A BUNION?

While a bunion (or hallux valgus) is characterized by a hard bump on the side of your big toe, you may be surprised to learn that it is actually a deformity that begins as an unstable joint at the base of the toe. The lower joint (the metatarsophalangeal or MTP joint) rotates out of alignment, causing your big toe to lean in and crowd your other toes while the joint at the side of the big toe juts outward to form a bunion. What causes bunions? Genetics related to foot shape and injuries to the foot or arthritis may play a role. Because women are more susceptible to developing bunions, it was thought that high heels could be a culprit, but it is more likely that unnaturally sloped heels or ill-fitting footwear only aggravate the underlying condition.

WHAT IS MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY?

1. Minimally invasive surgery is performed through small incisions in the skin

2. During an operation, your doctor will cut and shift the lower bone in your big toe over to improve the alignment of your lower joint (the metatarsophalangeal or MTP joint).

3. The correction is held in place with zero-profile screws to reduce the amount that you feel the hardware.

4. Minimally invasive surgery allows overall cosmetic and mechanical improvement of your foot, while maintaining or even improving range of motion at your big toe joint.3,4

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AFTER SURGERY?

Your doctor will decide the best recovery options for you. You should expect to keep the area bandaged for 1 to 2 weeks. Some people will need to keep weight off the toe area immediately after surgery while others may partially bear weight. Your doctor may suggest that you wear a special boot or hard shoe to protect your foot. By 4 to 6 weeks you may be able to transition to stiff-soled shoes. Expect to resume light exercise like jogging, biking, or swimming at 8 to 10 weeks if there is no pain and X-rays show full bone healing. Finally, your doctor may advise a full return to normal activities and normal shoe wear (including high heels) at 12 to 16 weeks. Please be aware that surgery and recovery protocol may vary and any questions pertaining to the surgical procedure or postoperative protocol should be discussed with your surgeon.

HELPING SURGEONS TREAT THEIR PATIENTS BETTER™

Due to the precision and specialty nature of this technology, Arthrex offers surgeons training specifically for minimally invasive bunion correction. If you feel like this may be the best option for you, ask your surgeon for more information about minimally invasive bunion correction.

It is always our objective to get our patients back to work quickly, back to the recreational activities they love and to restore the quality of life that they deserve. Schedule a consultation with our Podiatric Physician and Surgeon for a complete evaluation of your bunion condition.