What is bunion surgery?

Bunion surgery is the removal of a bunion from your foot. This procedure is sometimes called bunionectomy or bunion correction surgery.

A bunion is usually a bony growth on the inside edge of your big toe joint caused by something constantly pushing your big toe out of place. Bunions affect the metatarsophalangeal or MTP joint, the base of your big toe, and your foot.

There are other treatments to manage bunion pain, but only a bunionectomy will permanently remove the excess growth and straighten your foot. If other treatments fail to ease your pain, or if every step is agonizingly painful, your foot and ankle surgeon may advise that you have bunion surgery.

How do I prepare for bunion surgery?

Your surgeon will guide you to better prepare for the surgery. You may need

• Physical exam: Your surgeon will perform a physical exam to ensure your body is in good shape for the surgery.
• Blood tests.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG).
• A foot X-ray: You may also require imaging tests like MRI or CT scans.

You may be asked to forego some prescriptions or over-the-counter supplements and medication sometime before surgery. It would be a good idea to inform your surgeon about any medications or supplements you are on.

Your surgeon will tell you when to stop eating and drinking or "fast" before your surgery. Most patients must fast for at least eight hours before their surgery. On the morning of your surgery, you can take any medications your surgeon feels are safe with a sip of water.

What happens during a bunion surgery?

On the day of your surgery, you will be given anesthesia to ensure that you do not feel any discomfort at all. Most bunionectomy patients will not require general anesthesia to induce sleep; an anesthesiologist will use one of a few different types of anesthesia to numb you down from the waist or just your foot and the area around it.

The type of surgery you require will determine what goes down during your surgery. There are generally four types of bunion surgery:

• Osteotomy: Surgeons make some small incisions in your bones in the foot and toes. The surgeon inserts screws or pins into the bone in such a way that the big toe joint is corrected as much as possible. It's one of the standard types of bunion surgery, and osteotomy itself is often performed with a minimally invasive approach with fewer incisions, shorter recovery times, and even less scarring.
• Arthrodesis (joint fusion): The surgeon will do a joint fusion if arthritic conditions in your foot and toe cause the bunion or if you have a very severe bunion. Arthritic parts of your big toe joint are removed. Screws will be put into the bones to hold them together. When they heal, those bones will be fused into one bone. Joint fusions are typically only done in the worst cases of bunions.
• Lapidus: The surgeon will remove the bunion, and then they will realign your foot by fusing the joint in between your first metatarsal bone, your long bone in the center of your foot, and the medial cuneiform, one of the little bones where your ankle meets your foot. Your surgeon may recommend the Lapidus procedure if you have a more severe bunion. It is also an option for the foot level hypermobile individuals because the presence of the bunion makes the toe move too far or become unstable. It is another condition involving a younger individual developing a bunion.
• Exostectomy: In this surgical procedure, your surgeon will shave off the bunion. Oftentimes, they do osteotomy at the same time to reposition your toe. The reason exostectomy is so relatively rare is that surgeons can only perform it on the smallest bunions, and most people who need bunion surgery have a bunion big enough that another form of bunionectomy must take place.

What happens after bunion surgery?

After the surgery, the surgical team will transfer you to a recovery room. There, the team will monitor you for at least a few hours, not because something wrong can't happen with the anesthesia, but also because that anesthesia usually yields increasing amounts of pain as it begins to wear off. They will monitor your vital signs and your pain level.

Bunion surgeries are typically outpatient procedures. That means that you can go home the same day. Make plans for someone to pick you up or make other plans to get home safely. You will not be able to drive after surgery.

How long does bunion surgery take?

Most bunionectomies take an hour or less in surgery. However, it does depend on the type of surgery you are going to undergo and just how far out of alignment the MTP joint is for you. Your surgeon can give you some idea of what to expect.

What are the benefits of bunion surgery?

Most patients who undergo bunion surgery report relief from pain once they regain their health. The operation also corrects the positioning of the big toe, thus making shoe-wearing easier.

Improvement in the position of your big toe can be very excellent. It enhances walking and movement.

Your health is like yours — unique. Only you can decide whether or not you want to undergo any kind of treatment, including bunion surgery. However, for most people who have bunions that are not eased with other therapies, the symptoms do lessen significantly after surgery.

See a podiatrist or foot and ankle surgeon. They can advise you on how the surgery might alleviate your current symptoms.

What are the risks of bunion surgery?

Bunionectomy is very safe and effective, but complications can occur. Some severe though rare complications include:

• Blood clots.
• Infection in your foot or at your surgery site.
• Damage to nerves that could leave you numb in areas of your foot.
• Scarring.
• Damage to your blood vessels could result in chronic swelling.
• The bunion may recur.
• Delayed unions (delayed healing bones in your toe after arthrodesis).

How long does it take to recover from a bunion surgery?

Usually, it takes a few months to recover from bunionectomy fully. What cannot be avoided is the actual removal of stitches after two weeks following the surgery. However, the bones would take approximately six to 12 weeks to heal. You should wear protective shoes or boots for recovery purposes.

This can be after six to twelve weeks, during which time your foot helps regain its functions. You may need rehabilitation, known as physiotherapy, to regain your foot's strength and range of movement. Now, you can get back to your usual activities in about three months. Swelling, however, may start about six to nine months after the surgery.

You will need to attend scheduled postoperative visits with your health provider. The goal is for your foot to heal properly after surgery.

You'll have to ensure that your surgical dressing heals properly by taking due care of it.

Your surgical care team will stabilize and support your toe by wrapping it in a specific way. Ask your surgeon: Do you or your family members and caregivers need permission before you change the dressing? Most people must keep their dressings in place for several weeks until their stitches are removed.

Ask your surgeon how to keep your dressing dry and safe, especially when showering or bathing. You may have to drape the plastic bag or cling wrap over your foot to keep it dry.

Can you walk as soon as you have bunion surgery?

The sort of bunionectomy you need decides on the kind of footwear you should wear after the surgery. If you can walk and gain weight immediately after surgery, your doctor will fit you with a protective shoe or boot.

Some bunion surgeries must remain non-weight-bearing longer than others. You may need crutches or a knee roller/scooter for weeks.

Your surgeon will tell you what to expect. Listen to what they say. Placing weight on your foot too soon, or even at all, before your bones have healed can undo some bunionectomy in their entirety.

How painful is surgery for bunions?

With any surgery, there's pain. You experience a few stages of discomfort after bunion surgery, primarily in the early stages when you start to recover from the operation. You would be feeling pain coming from the surgery itself and from the healing of your body.

Your surgeon will recommend for you ways of coping with the pain. They might include prescription pain medication, over-the-counter NSAIDs if it is safe for you to take, acetaminophen, or any combination of these drugs. Your surgeon will inform you of what amount of pain medication you can take and how much of each type is safe to use.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Seek medical attention right away if you have these symptoms:

• Your dressing begins to loosen, falls off, or becomes wet.
• Fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius).
• Bleeding.
• There may be signs of infection in the area where you had surgery, such as leakage, a bad odor, discoloration, swelling, or feeling warm.
• New or increasing pain.

Why Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Bunion Surgery?

Tender Palm Hospital, owned by doctors, is renowned for attracting the most skilled professionals in the country. With the finest Orthopedic surgeons, specialized in Bunion Surgery. Tender Palm stands out as the premier orthopedic hospital in Lucknow, India. Boasting cutting-edge infrastructure and advanced technology, Tender Palm ensures top-notch medical care for its patients.

To seek an expert consultation for any orthopedic condition.

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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