Types of surgery for bunion correction include osteotomy, arthrodesis, and exostectomy. Nonsurgical treatments can help manage pain, but they will not truly correct the bunion.
A bunion is a large bump on your big toe. It occurs at the joint at the bottom of your toe. A bunion happens over time as the top of your big toe bends closer to your other toes.
Bunions can cause you to experience pain in your big toe and under your foot. While bunion relief products can help manage bunion pain, they don’t fix or remove them.
Bunion surgery may make your foot look different or your shoes more comfortable. Doctors may recommend the treatment if you experience bunion pain.
Read on to learn more about bunion correction surgery, as well as remedies that may help manage pain.
You may be a candidate for bunion surgery if you experience pain and nonsurgical options are ineffective.
Surgery can correct a bunion by realigning the bones, ligaments, and tendons to put the big toe back into place.
Osteotomy
An osteotomy involves cutting one or more bones in your toe. The surgeon can then realign the joint to reduce or remove the bunion.
The doctor may make small cuts in the bone or remove a piece to finish the realignment. They fix the cut bone with metal pins, screws, or plates.
Arthrodesis
Arthrodesis corrects the bunion by removing parts of the surfaces of the big toe joint in order to fuse the joint.
The surgeon then uses wires, pins, screws, or plates to hold the surfaces of the toe bones together until they fuse. They then remove the wires or pins.
Your toe is rigid after this procedure.
Doctors may recommend arthrodesis if you have a severe bunion or if other surgeries to remove the bunion have not been successful.
Exostectomy
An exostectomy removes the bony bump from the big toe joint but does not realign the joint.
A surgeon will usually perform an exostectomy along with an osteotomy.
These bony lumps can come back. If your doctor recommends exostectomy, they can provide more information about the likelihood of bunions returning.
Nonsurgical options can relieve pain and discomfort from bunions. They may also stop bunions from getting worse, but they can’t make bunions go away or reverse the changes in your foot.
Bunion correctors
Bunion correctors are available online or over the counter. They may resemble a sleeve or stiff splint that straightens the big toe while you wear it.
According to the Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, correctors do not fix bunions, but they may reduce pain.
A toe spacer you can place between your toes can also reduce strain on the big toe joint. As with bunion correctors, this can ease discomfort but won’t get rid of the bump.
Footwear
Wearing the right shoes can prevent pressure on your toes and reduce discomfort from bunions. Footwear that may help can be open-toed or wide around the toes. Shoe inserts, called orthotics, may also help improve the fit of the shoe.
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You may also find relief with cushions or padding around the toe. Fit is important, as the extra material inside the shoe may increase pressure instead of relieving it.
Exercises
Strengthening your foot muscles may also reduce bunion pain, which can make walking easier. Exercise won’t make the bunion look different.
Some exercises focus on stretching and strengthening the foot. Other exercises, such as swimming, can help you maintain physical activity while reducing pressure on your feet.
A physical therapist can recommend the right exercises for you.
Bunions are bony bumps on the joint at the base of the big toe.
You may find pain relief through nonsurgical methods such as using bunion correctors, wearing comfortable footwear, and performing certain exercises.
If pain persists, several surgical options can correct the bunion and align the big toe joint. These include osteotomy, arthrodesis, and exostectomy.
Speak with a doctor if you have concerns about bunion pain or developing bunions. They can recommend ways to manage pain and reduce the likelihood of developing a bunion, as well as whether they recommend surgery to remove a bunion.
