|
Like most medical conditions, the incidence of bunions increases with age. According to a recent study, more than one-third of Americans aged 65 and older suffer from this often-painful deformity of the big toe. And since we have an aging population, the problem will likely get worse in the coming years. Unfortunately, there are few nonsurgical options when the foot disorder starts causing pain. Fortunately, most patients are satisfied with results of bunion surgery. With that in mind, here's what every prospective patient should know about the procedure. Types Of Surgery Because it causes the big toe, or hallux, to deviate toward the other toes, a bunion can throw off the alignment of your entire foot. In time, the bony hump that occurs at the joint of the first metatarsal will absorb a disproportionate amount of your body weight when walking. This may cause the area to become sore, inflamed, and highly sensitive to any kind of pressure. It is at this time that patients often seek surgical treatment. Depending on the placement and seriousness of the deformity, podiatric surgeons may use any number of techniques during the operation. But whatever they do, the objective is always to relieve pain by restoring the natural alignment of the joint. Here are a few ways they might accomplish that end: - Removing part of the metatarsal head (the bony, protruding hump) - Realigning the ligaments of the big toe - Making small cuts in the bones of the hallux and then moving them into proper alignment - Reshaping and realigning both bones that meet at the first metatarsal joint - Fusing the big toe joint to prevent future deviation - Removing the deformed joint and replacing it with an artificial one After Surgery Depending on the amount of bone and soft tissue affected, it could take anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months to completely recover from bunion surgery. There have even been cases where patients complained of side effects as long as a year afterward. The good news is that most patients respond well to the operation. Without complications, they can often return to work on a walking cast within the week. While special shoes are sometimes needed, regular footwear is generally an option about a month after the operation. The Results No matter the technique or procedure the surgeon uses, your mobility should improve after surgery. With the big toe joint in better alignment with the rest of the foot, it should no longer absorb a disproportionate amount of weight with each step. After the incision has completely healed, and the swelling has subsided, the hallux should look normal, or nearly so. With that said, improved appearance is not the objective of the operation. As such, those who seek aesthetic improvement may want to consult a cosmetic surgeon, rather than a podiatric surgeon. Bunion surgery can correct painful deformities of the feet in patients who do not respond to nonsurgical treatment. When looking for treatment for a bunion, New York residents go to Downtown NYC Foot Care. To learn more, visit http://www.downtownnycfootcare.com/document_disorders.cfm?id=200.
Related Articles -
bunion, New, York,
|
