Bunion Treatment

A bunion, which often looks like a bony bump on the joint at the base of the toe, forms due to a misalignment of the big toe. Bunions can be hereditary, develop as a result of stress or injury on the joint, or possibly develop and worsen as a result of wearing tight, narrow shoes. Over time, bunions can progress and grow larger, causing pain, inflammation, stiffness and even deformity.

Bunions are a common foot problem, and our orthopaedic specialists are highly experienced in treating them. We perform many bunion corrections and surgeries for more serious cases; however, most people with bunions find that non-surgical approaches are effective in treating pain and discomfort.

It may be time to see a doctor if your bunion is causing:

• Significant big toe pain, swelling, redness and stiffness
• Difficulty walking
• Pain from certain types of shoes or difficulty finding shoes that fit properly
• Decreased movement in the big toe

Meet the team of experts who specialize in bunion treatment

Bunion Correction Without Surgery

Whenever possible, our orthopaedic specialists use conservative therapies to treat bunions. We may recommend icing the area or using anti-inflammatories to help reduce swelling.

Doing something as simple as changing your footwear can greatly reduce symptoms. Avoid wearing narrow shoes and high heels, and instead, opt for a wider shoe with padded heels, padding inside the shoe, and/or a toe spacer that can help keep the big toe stay in place and prevent it from moving outward.

In general, padding is a relatively simple way to help relieve pressure on the bunion while wearing shoes and being active. Custom orthotics or custom insoles, created by Penn specialists, help keep the toes and foot aligned, relieving symptoms and preventing the bunion from progressing.

Foot Bunion Surgery

When non-surgical approaches don't work to reduce the pain caused by your bunion, you may be a candidate for bunion surgery.

Bunion surgery is a personal choice. You and your physician will discuss your goals for the surgery, risk factors and any other lifestyle factors that need to be considered before making the decision to move forward with surgery.

You may be a good candidate for bunion surgery if:

• Your bunion pain interferes with walking and wearing reasonable shoes due to the pain
• Swelling and inflammation of your big toe doesn't improve with icing or medications
• You have a big toe deformity, such as the big toe bending toward or crossing the other toes
• You aren't able to bend or straighten your big toe
• You're experiencing chronic big toe pain

Bunion surgery is a highly complex surgery. Surgery involves realigning the big toe. You may need several different types of procedures done in conjunction with one another, which may include removal of bone and soft tissue, as well as the repair of ligaments, tendons and nerves.

Our orthopaedic surgeons are experts in bunion correction surgery to remove the bunion and reduce painful symptoms. We perform the surgery using local anesthesia, while patients are awake, to help ensure they recover more quickly, have a lower risk of side effects and complications, and do not need an IV.

Every bunion surgery will be different depending on the severity of your symptoms and whether or not your bunion has progressed to a deformity.

A bunionectomy is a procedure that involves making an incision near the big toe joint, where your surgeon will remove pieces of the bone while straightening out the toe joint. The bone is then set in a position that properly aligns the big toe. Hardware such as pins, screws or plates may be used to hold the toe in place. 

In patients with arthritis, bone fusion or arthrodesis may be performed to remove the arthritic joint and damaged cartilage.

Bunion Surgery Recovery

When deciding whether or not bunion correction surgery is right for you, one factor to consider is the recovery time. Bunion surgery involves cutting and realigning the bone, and it will take several months for the bone to heal. The average person will need up to six months or more of recovery time to allow the bones and soft tissues to heal.

Because you’ll need to stay off the foot as much as possible, we advise against having bunion correction surgery on both feet at the same time. You may need to wear a special shoe, use crutches or use a wheelchair during this time. We’ll monitor you throughout your entire recovery, seeing you regularly to ensure you are healing properly.

Minimally Invasive Foot Bunion Surgery

Patients with mild to moderate bunions who have not found relief from conservative management may be candidates for minimally invasive foot bunion surgery. The severity of the bunion is based on the surgeon’s judgment.

Small incisions in the foot allow the surgeon to access the bone behind the big toe (first metatarsal) in order to change the bone’s alignment.

You will be able to bear weight on your foot while wearing a boot immediately after surgery. About 5 to 6 weeks later you may be able to return to regular shoes and begin physical therapy.