Bunions

If a painful bump on the inside of your foot makes your shoes hurt, it could be a bunion. Our foot and ankle experts offer nonsurgical and surgical options designed to help you walk comfortably.

Bunion Causes and Risk Factors

Bunions, also known as hallux valgus deformities, can be caused by genetics or wearing shoes that are too narrow. Women and athletes are more likely to develop bunions.

These painful deformities cause your bones to shift and rotate inside your foot. Although traditional treatments can provide temporary relief, they can’t address the rotation, often causing bunion to come back. Fortunately, newer procedures available at MU Health Care can correct your bunion with longer-lasting results.

Bunion Symptoms

You could have a bunion if you have:

A big toe joint that sticks out toward your other foot
A big toe that turns toward your second toe
Ongoing toe or foot pain
Redness, swelling or stiffness around the toe joint
Trouble getting your shoes to fit properly
A callus on the sole of your foot or between your big toe and second toe

When to Seek Care for Bunions

Not all bunions need treatment, especially if they do not cause pain. But without treatment, most bunions slowly get worse over time. They can lead to bone changes that alter the shape of your foot and cause problems such as:

Bursitis: Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs around joints.
Hammertoes: A foot deformity that causes toes to bend down at the middle joint.
Metatarsalgia: Pain and inflammation in the ball of your foot.
Osteoarthritis: Stiffness or swelling in your metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, which connects your big toe to your foot

If you think you have a bunion, our foot and ankle specialists can help.

How We Diagnose Bunions at MU Health Care

When you see one of our foot and ankle specialists for bunions, they will start by examining your foot. Your podiatric surgeon or orthopaedic surgeon will check for bone abnormalities and signs of pain or swelling.

You’ll also have foot X-rays. If you are considering surgery, you may also have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan or computed tomography (CT) scan.

How We Treat Bunions at MU Health Care

We offer the full range of nonsurgical and surgical treatments for bunions at MU Health Care.

Nonsurgical Bunion Treatments

Options to treat bunions without surgery include:

Wearing shoes that have a wide toe box and aren’t too narrow.
Using over-the-counter bunion pads or stretching devices for shoes.
Wearing toe braces or using medical tape to hold toes in the proper position.
Using shoe inserts (orthotics) to support your feet.
Taking over-the-counter pain relievers to ease discomfort.
Injections, which can help reduce pain and inflammation.
Physical therapy, which can improve muscle strength and walking ability.
Losing weight, if you are overweight, to reduce pressure on your joints.

Bunion Surgery (Bunionectomy)

New surgical techniques have transformed bunion surgery, so your bunion is less likely to return. Most bunion surgeries are outpatient procedures, meaning you can go home the same day. Recovery can also be faster, compared to traditional bunion surgery.

At MU Health Care, our team uses a variety of surgical techniques to treat bunions:

Lapiplasty®: Unlike traditional surgery that only addressed the shifting bone, this procedure also corrects the rotation in your joint. Most people who have Lapiplasty do not need another surgery (revision) on the same bunion.

During this surgery, our team will use small plates, screws or staples to fuse two bones in your foot. The fusion helps your bones grow together.

After Lapiplasty, you can walk on your foot almost immediately. You will use a walking boot for six to eight weeks while your bones fuse together. You can wear regular shoes and return to your normal activities in about two to three months.

Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery: Many bunion surgeries can be performed with minimally invasive techniques using special instruments. Because these procedures use smaller incisions, you can generally expect fewer complications and a faster recovery after surgery.

Patient-Specific Bunionectomy: A new type of bunion surgery available at MU Health Care uses 3D-printed surgical guides to personalize your surgery. With custom guides based on CT scans of your foot, our surgeons can realign bones with greater precision.

What You Can Expect with Bunion Surgery

You’ll have imaging done before your surgery to help our team plan your procedure.
On the day of surgery, you will have someone drive you.
Most surgeries are performed with regional block anesthesia and general anesthesia, so your foot is numb for 12-24 hours after surgery. For some procedures, you are still awake.
Your surgeon will cut and realign your bones and soft tissue. They will also use small plates, staples and screws to fuse bones together or help them heal better.
The surgery takes about one to two hours.
Most patients can return home the same day of surgery. You’ll have a special boot on your foot that you’ll wear while your bones heal or fuse together.
You should rest for a few days after surgery. To reduce swelling, you can use ice and keep your foot elevated.
In two to three months, you can gradually start to wear athletic shoes on your operative foot. Your care team may recommend physical therapy to help you build strength in your foot.
After about three months, you can return to your normal activities. After about six months, you can return to sports.
Full recovery from bunion surgery may take up to a year.