Curvature of the foot at the base of the big toe is a well-known and very unpleasant pathology, the cause of which is a group of problems with bone and connective tissue. Even more unpleasant are its external manifestations: bones (bumps) at the base of the big toes , which completely exclude the possibility of feeling comfortable in open shoes or without them.
The medical name for this disease is hallux valgus or hallux valgus, and the “risk group” includes children and almost all women over the age of 30, especially those who love fashionable shoes with narrow or short toes. If the problem is not addressed at the earliest stages, it will actively progress over time - the foot and toes become more and more bent, the pain syndrome increases, making it impossible to walk normally or even stand still for a long time.
This disease has been well studied by modern medicine and can be treated quite effectively in both early and later stages. The choice of a specific technique depends on an individual set of factors: the degree of deformation, the speed of development of the process, the severity of the pain syndrome, etc.
However, it is important to understand that we are talking about a serious health problem that must be dealt with by a specialist (orthopedist or surgeon) . “Home” and “folk” methods common on the Internet are not only useless, but also dangerous: for example, with the help of some compresses you can temporarily suppress pain, but this will not affect the overall dynamics of the development of the disease, and the illusion of “healing” will prevent timely treatment to the doctor.
The most popular and effective options for getting rid of bunions and bumps on the big toes are several types of surgical operations, after which patients can walk normally again and wear open shoes, without any health consequences. Orthopedic and conservative (drug and physiotherapeutic) methods are used to a greater extent as preventive or complementary measures to surgery.
There are special medical products whose task is to reduce or slow down joint deformation and eliminate pain. These include:
The effectiveness of their use is high only in the early stages of the disease , when the joint has not yet ossified, the lump is not yet so noticeable and the fingers are not bent. The later such treatment begins, the less effective it will be.
Also, orthopedic methods for the treatment of hallux valgus deformity are of great help after surgery, during the patient’s rehabilitation - as a prevention of relapse of the disease.
This group includes two directions at once
Like orthopedic methods, these methods are also effective only at the initial stages of the process, during the rehabilitation period or as a preventive measure for the appearance of bones and bumps. In addition, a set of conservative measures is often prescribed as preparation for surgery to relieve local pain and “slow down” the inflammatory process.
This treatment option is the most common, since most people wait until the last minute before seeing a doctor and come to the appointment with an extremely advanced problem. Only surgical methods can eliminate the consequences of such frivolity, restore a person’s ability to walk normally and not have a complex every time he has to take off his shoes.
Modern medicine knows about 100 different types of operations aimed at removing bones and bumps on the big toes. But there are only a few basic, most frequently practiced ones. They differ in the degree of intervention and its focus:
Conservative treatment of a bunion is effective until a certain time, until the growth is too prominent. If the valgus progresses and the bump on the foot protrudes strongly to the side, then the question of surgery is raised. The cost of removing a bunion depends on the method chosen, but it is always not cheap.
But, despite the high cost, people still agree to go on the operating table, because otherwise the problem cannot be solved. But the question of how to remove a bunion on the big toe without surgery is relevant only when the bunion is just starting to grow.
How to remove a bunion on the big toe? Does a man lose one of his own bones? How does he walk after that? To answer these questions, you need to understand the nature of such a pathology as valgus.
Due to the fact that the valgus bone protrudes strongly to the side and forms a lump, it is called a growth. But from a medical point of view, this is just a deformation. As a result of flat feet, excess weight and a shift in the center of gravity due to constant wearing of heels, the joint of the big toe is displaced and deformed. There is a bulging to the side, but, in fact, there is no neoplasm. But still, the main question is formulated as usual: how to remove bunions?
You can get rid of hallux valgus only by straightening the protruding bone. Previously, there was only one method: surgical removal of the bunion, which involved cutting out the bone and installing it in the correct position. This method was traumatic, painful and required long-term rehabilitation.
Implants such as screws, wires or plates were used to realign the joint. The patient had to walk for a long time in a cast, using crutches to move. It was important to endure the entire rehabilitation period and not accidentally lean on your sore leg. Because if the structure accidentally shifted, it would cause severe pain, and all the work would be in vain.
Today, doctors are not faced with the question of what to do with a bunion, because laser technology has appeared. Today there is no need to excise the bone and set it in place, so recovery has become faster, and the operation itself is much easier to tolerate.
Let's look at the new methods used today.
Its essence lies in the absence of the need to violate the integrity of the skin: micropunctures are enough. Using a microscalpel and other similar instruments, the doctor reaches the desired points of the foot and cuts the bone. The axis changes and the deformation is eliminated. This method allows you to do without additional fixation in the form of plaster. The consequences are also minimal: a slight tingling sensation in the foot area.
The disadvantage of minimally invasive surgery is that the method is not suitable for everyone. Namely, it can only be performed on people with mild bone deformation. If valgus is severe, other methods should be used.
Reconstructive surgery, which is performed using an open method using epidural anesthesia, will help remove bunions forever. An approximately three-centimeter incision allows you to reach the joint and correct its axis in a minimally invasive way. Then the bone is excised and fixed with materials that dissolve after some time.
Rehabilitation after removing bunions using this method involves limiting the load on the leg. It is not recommended to run for several weeks, wear tight shoes and prevent the joint from correcting and the incision from healing. You can walk within a few days after the operation.
The safest method, which does not require plaster and has the shortest rehabilitation period. The patient begins to walk on the same or the next day after surgery, and a day later he is discharged home. This is followed by a two-week sick leave with regular monitoring by an orthopedist, after which you can forget about the protruding bone and return to normal life.
Laser bone resurfacing requires a special device. Under the influence of high temperature and a directed beam, the bone tissue is destroyed layer by layer, and the lump decreases in size. At the same time, disinfection and healing occur, because the laser instantly seals the resulting wounds. Reviews about this procedure are the most flattering, because it is the most effective and safest method.
Whatever method is chosen, you will have to pay a tidy sum for it. Such operations are now almost never carried out for free, and it is very difficult to get the quota. The cost of each stone removal method ranges from 30 to 60 thousand rubles. Despite such high prices, there is no alternative. It will not be possible to remove a bunion at home, because conservative methods are only effective for the prevention of hallux valgus and its treatment at the earliest stage.
Exercise therapy after removal of bunions is always required, it’s just that the timing of the period when you can put stress on your leg varies. The set of exercises is similar to those that need to be done to prevent hallux valgus, for example:
Physical exercises performed after bunion surgery should not cause pain or discomfort. If you experience any discomfort, you should stop exercising, and if the pain is regular, consult a doctor.
Removing bunions using laser
In many plastic surgery clinics, the laser treatment method is used quite widely, and there are already positive results. And despite this, laser removal of bunions is a new phenomenon and therefore not known to many people.
What is a bunion? Of course, the human foot consists of several dozen (!) small bones. But everyone knows perfectly well what is meant - the growth of a lump around the big toe, its incorrect position. Usually the finger “looks” with its tip inward of the foot, sometimes “running into” the adjacent middle finger.
In foreign literature the bone is called bunion
One can only guess how much suffering this disease causes to women (and these are most often women). Or ask your mother or grandmother about the symptoms. They will tell you that it is impossible to wear shoes with high heels - this makes the bunions hurt very much.
They will tell you that the shoes last only one or two seasons, again because of the damned bump. Yes, in the end, it is simply unsightly, the foot takes on an ugly shape, and this is often the most upsetting thing.
Hallux valgus (the scientific name for a lump) is not very noticeable at first. The toe deviates outward so gradually that the defect begins to be noticed when the shoes become too small or when pain appears in the foot.
As a result, we have the following symptoms:
Today we will talk specifically about laser correction of this defect.
So, removing bunions with a laser is still an operation; it is performed under local anesthesia. You can operate on two limbs at once, and this is very convenient, you will agree... But, unlike a conventional operation, the protruding parts of the bone are not cut off, but only polished using a laser device.
In this case, the protruding part is still noticeably reduced. And the main advantage of such an operation is that after it the lower limb is not encased in plaster. You can walk within a few hours (albeit with some restrictions).
And after 7-10 days you will already be able to move freely “on your own two feet” without any help. Not to mention the fact that the patient is discharged from the hospital one day after the operation.
If you have not yet decided to take drastic measures such as surgery, be sure to consult with an orthopedist about what insoles or spacers you need to choose to make walking comfortable.
The main advice is don’t leave your bumps alone! They will grow more and more if you do not take at least the simplest methods to correct foot deformities.
Now watch the video and useful tips about bunions:
Removing bunions with a laser is a new and little-known procedure. However, more and more Russian clinics are offering laser surgery for the treatment of hallux valgus. The growing popularity of this treatment method is associated with some advantages of laser surgery over traditional surgery.
In the early stages of hallux valgus, or simply put, a bunion at the base of the big toe, treatment can be conservative. Various insoles, other orthopedic devices, massage and special gymnastics are used. However, these measures are not effective enough for moderate and severe pathologies. In this situation, surgery cannot be avoided. Surgery knows many different methods for treating bunions on the feet, from removal, excision of the bones of the phalanges of the toe, to their complete removal, from alignment of the phalanges using special screws, to the complete formation of the transverse arch of the foot by retensioning the foot ligaments. The choice of method depends on the specific case. Surgery can be performed using either traditional surgery or a laser.
So, unlike the traditional one, laser removal of a bunion is performed under local anesthesia. It is carried out in a hospital and lasts no more than one hour. The patient is discharged one day after the operation. Moreover, you can operate on two legs at once. During laser intervention, the protruding bones of the phalanges of the fingers are polished using a laser device. With this removal of leg bones, a good cosmetic effect is achieved. No plaster or other corrective materials are required after such an operation. The patient can walk (with some restrictions) within a few hours after the operation.
After two weeks, a person can completely return to his usual lifestyle. To avoid relapses, the patient is observed by an orthopedist for some time after surgery.
Thus, the main advantages of laser bunion removal are the speed of the treatment itself and the relatively short recovery period while maintaining the proper effectiveness of the treatment.
Today, the average price for removing a bunion on one leg in Russian clinics is 35,000 rubles. Moreover, if you perform the operation on both legs at once, then such a bilateral intervention will cost you 50,000 rubles. Prices may vary in different clinics by an average of 10 thousand rubles across the country.
When dealing with bunions, remember that the sooner you start treatment, the more successful treatment, including laser treatment, can be.
Cones on the legs by the age of 35-40 form in every third representative of the fair sex. What kind of pathology is this and how to treat it? Read the article about the causes of deformation and methods for removing cones (bones) on the feet.
Narrow, graceful female feet in beautiful dress shoes are an object of admiration for men and a topic for enthusiastic poems by poets... Alas, for some women this is just a dream. In reality - buying shoes 1-2 sizes up and having a painful, enlarged foot. This is due to deformation in the area of the first metatarsophalangeal joints - the so-called bunions or bunions on the legs.
These patients were recently added to our gallery
The name “bunions on the feet” (“bumps on the feet”) does not fully reflect the essence of the problem. Upon closer examination, even in the initial stages, in addition to the “bone” on the inner surface of the foot, you can see the deviation of the first toe outward (hallux valgus), and the first metatarsal bone - inward. The width of the foot increases, and difficulties arise with the selection of shoes. At the very beginning, the “bumps” on the feet are small. At this stage they mainly consist of a displaced head of the first metatarsal.
As a result of shoes compressing the soft tissues in the “bone” area, inflammation of the synovial bursa may occur, pain, swelling and redness may appear. The head of the first metatarsal bone is also subject to pressure, and growths appear along its edge. As a result, the “bone” increases in size even more.
In the later stages of the disease, hammertoe deformity of the second and third toes appears (shown in the figure), and deforming arthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint often develops. The first metatarsal bone not only deviates to the side, but also rises above the support. While walking, the load on it decreases, but the 2-3 metatarsal bones begin to be loaded to a greater extent. On the sole, under the heads of these bones, corns form, often painful. A hammertoe deformity of 2-3 fingers and a callus on their dorsal surface develops.
As you can see, “bumps” on the foot are a complex multicomponent deformity of the forefoot. Conventionally, the border between cosmetic deformation and disease passes where pain appears when walking and impaired musculoskeletal function.
At the onset of the disease, conservative treatment can be effective.
Taken together, these measures can stop the progression of the pathology. If conservative methods do not give effect and the bones in the legs continue to grow, or the deformity is already quite pronounced, surgical intervention will help.
Medicine does not stand still, every year we better understand the reasons for the development of bunions on the legs, new methods are being developed to eliminate deformities based on the latest advances in traumatology and orthopedics. Modern anesthesia guarantees the absence of pain during surgery. Preoperative planning and a carefully designed postoperative period ensure complete rehabilitation of our patients.
Doctors have been involved in the surgical treatment of leg bumps since the times of Hippocrates and Antillus. As a rule, 90% of all techniques are aimed at changing the position of the first metatarsal bone. However, until recently, in order to keep it in the correct position, unreliable clamps were used, and it was necessary to additionally apply a plaster cast for 1.5-2 months. And the longer the limbs are fixed in plaster, the more difficult the subsequent rehabilitation.
Currently, combined types of operations on the bones and soft tissues of the foot are more often used to treat the disease described above. The main disadvantage of this treatment is the need for immobilization with a plaster cast followed by long-term rehabilitation.
Our clinic uses modern techniques, thanks to which the patient in post-operative condition does without plaster.
We believe (and many surgeons will agree with this) that each patient requires an individual approach. The severity of the deformity, the presence of concomitant flat feet, or vice versa, a hollow foot, changes in the first metatarsophalangeal joint, age - these and other factors must be taken into account when choosing a treatment method. In one case, you can limit yourself to intervention only on soft tissues, in another, combined surgery on the bones of the forefoot in combination with surgery on muscles and tendons is necessary, in the third, extended intervention on the bones.
We have several surgical techniques in our arsenal that allow us to achieve the desired aesthetic and functional results - complete removal of bunions on the legs. At the same time, the rehabilitation period is much easier compared to other traditional methods.
Advantages of our methods:
After the operation, we apply a regular bandage. On the same day or the next, we allow the load on the heel. After treatment is completed, you can wear normal shoes, including high heels .
Correction of the position of the first metatarsal bone and removal of cones on the legs by osteotomy (crossing)
Using a small incision in the “bone” area, we dissect the soft tissue. We remove excessively overgrown soft tissue and that part of the “bump” on the leg that is not involved in the normal functioning of the joint. Using a thin blade of a special sagittal saw, we cross the first metatarsal bone. Moreover, the intersection plane is so located in space that the halves of the bone have no tendency to spontaneously shift when walking, which means the risk of nonunion is minimized. Sometimes it is necessary to supplement the osteotomy with manipulation of soft tissues - to release the ligaments that hold the first finger in the abducted position. We place the transected bone in the correct position (the head of the first metatarsal bone becomes closer to the second and lower than it). Fixation is performed with two titanium screws, the heads of the screws are immersed so that they do not protrude further under the skin. The position of the finger is corrected. The foot becomes narrower.
Intervention on soft tissues during removal of bunions
Two small incisions are used to access the intervention area, perform manipulations on the tendons and muscles that move the first finger, the joint capsule, correct the position of the finger, and unload the joint. A new anatomical formation is cut out from the capsule, tendons, and ligaments, with the help of which the metatarsal bones are brought together and the displacement of the sesamoid bones is eliminated. Externally, the foot acquires a normal anatomical shape.
After the operation, we apply a regular bandage, and the next day the patient is allowed to walk in special shoes. You need to walk in these orthopedic sandals for 5 weeks. Once the metatarsal bone has healed and the swelling has subsided, the patient returns to regular shoes.
Without treatment, bunions on the legs only progress, worsening a person’s quality of life. We are waiting for you for a consultation!
Hallux abducto valgus is the most common orthopedic problem of the forefoot. These are the so-called “foot bones”, “foot bumps”.
Many people consider “bones” on the feet to be gout (or salt deposits), but believe me, this disease has nothing to do with gout.
A “bunion” on the foot in the area of 1 toe is usually the result of transverse flatfoot. With age, the feet become flatter, and the longitudinal and transverse arches of the feet decrease. But one can argue: not all people with flat feet experience these painful “bumps”...
The cause of bunions in the feet is the so-called dysplastic (hypermobile) syndrome. This is an individual anatomical predisposition, which consists of a high degree of elasticity (hypermobility) of all joints (including the joints of the feet). Patients often have a family history of the disease and note that the same foot problems bothered both their mother and grandmother...
As a result of this hyperelasticity, an imbalance of the capsular-ligamentous apparatus occurs in the area of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot, as a result of which the first metatarsal bone deviates inward, and the first toe deviates outward. In simple words, a “bunion” is an angular deformation of the bones of the foot, and not a “bone growth”, as many people think.
Provoking factors for the appearance of “bumps” on the feet are wearing tight shoes or shoes with narrow toes. Heeled shoes, as a rule, do not lead to the formation of this disease. Quite rarely, the cause of bunions can be any foot injury or disease (rheumatoid arthritis).
Valgus deformity of the 1st toe in most cases is a “female” disease. The growth of “bones” begins at a young age and gradually progresses, reaching a peak at the age of 45-60 years.
In most patients, the problem is bilateral: deformity of 1 toe occurs on both feet. The characteristic symptoms of hallux valgus are the presence of so-called bunions (“bumps”) on the feet in the area of the first toes; the first toes themselves deviate outward. Often there is pain on palpation and hyperemia (redness of the skin) in the area of the “bone”.
At a young age, only a cosmetic defect is noted; later, as the hallux valgus deformity of 1 toe progresses, pain appears when wearing shoes.
In hyper-advanced, untreated cases of hallux valgus of 1 toe, due to constant friction of the bump on the feet in shoes, serious complications can arise, such as purulent bursitis, purulent arthritis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint, osteomyelitis (purulent inflammation of the bone):
To assess the deformation of 1 toe, radiography of the forefoot is performed in 2 projections: direct and lateral.
An X-ray examination is necessary to assess the condition of the foot bones themselves (the presence of osteoporosis, bone cysts, arthrosis changes in the joints, etc.) and to determine the parameters of valgus deformation of the 1st toe (the angle of deviation of the first toe, the angle of deviation of the first metatarsal bone, the PASA angle, parameters Lelièvre's parabolas, etc.).
After measuring all the obtained radiological parameters, the degree of valgus deformity of 1 toe is determined, and the issue of treatment tactics is decided accordingly.
There are three degrees of deformation of the first toes:
outward deviation of 1 finger (angle M1-P1) < 25°
deviation of the 1st metatarsal bone medially (angle M1-M2) < 12°
deviation of 1 finger outwards (angle M1-P1) > 25°
deviation of the 1st metatarsal bone medially (angle M1-M2) < 18°
PASA angle - normal or negative
outward deviation of 1 finger (angle M1-P1) > 35 °
deviation of the 1st metatarsal bone medially (angle M1-M2) > 18°
PASA angle – negative
Prevention and conservative treatment of hallux valgus:
Currently, orthopedic salons offer a large selection of various orthopedic products for the prevention and treatment of bunions: silicone (gel) interdigital inserts, bursoprotectors, their combinations (for example Valgus-Pro), night and day abductor bandages for 1 toe, orthopedic insoles and etc.
I'll be honest: the effect is ZERO.
I can assure you that all conservative methods (the use of orthopedic correctors, various “folk methods”, physiotherapy, massage, manual therapy, etc.) will not relieve you of these “bumps” . They can only temporarily reduce inflammation (redness) and pain, but in no way can correct the existing deformity of the foot bones.
On the Internet you can find information about the so-called “author’s non-surgical methods” for treating hallux valgus. This is pure quackery. How do you like this nonsense (found on the Internet): a “bone” appears on the legs if a person has a stitch after appendicitis...
Do not think that I am an ardent opponent of traditional medicine and other methods of conservative treatment, I just want to save you from wasting precious time and senseless financial expenses.
Believe me, the only optimal method of getting rid of hallux valgus of the 1st toe is surgical treatment.
Operations for hallux valgus were carried out in ancient times (since the time of Hippocrates). In the entire history of world orthopedics, about 300 different surgical methods for treating hallux valgus of the first toe are known. Of course, most of them are not used now, since they are considered ineffective and sometimes quite traumatic.
Currently, high-tech, low-traumatic and, most importantly, effective surgical methods for treating bunions in the feet have been developed and are being successfully carried out.
Nowadays, hallux valgus orthopedic technology uses a special innovative potential (various titanium alloy fixators, microblades, microdrills, etc.), with the help of which it is possible to achieve very stable bone fixation, which in turn allows the patient to begin early activity: walking immediately after surgery, no cast, no crutches.
There are several types of surgical treatment for bunions in the feet. There is no universal method of surgery that would suit all patients, because everyone has different feet and different types of static deformities.
The choice of surgical method, as a rule, depends on the anatomical and functional features (type and degree of deformation of 1 toe, the presence of other concomitant problems of the forefoot).
Focus on an individual approach in choosing one or another method of reconstructive surgery on the feet and careful preoperative planning, all this underlies the successful outcome of surgical treatment of hallux valgus.
If we talk about surgical methods for treating static deformities of the forefoot, today there are 2 approaches to surgical techniques: minimally invasive foot surgery and operations using the so-called “open” method.
Minimally invasive surgery is based on eliminating forefoot deformities without any skin incisions, but through mini-incisions (mini-punctures). The founders of this method of surgical treatment of forefoot deformities are S. Isham, M. DePrado, S. Guillo.
In short, the meaning of this surgical method is that from small punctures (without incisions) measuring 1-3 mm, using special instruments (Beaver microscalpel, micro-drills of various lengths and shapes), bones are sawed in certain places of the foot. As a result of these bone filings/sections, the axis of the bone changes, thereby eliminating its deformation. No fixation of bone fragments (no screws, no plates, no staples) is used.
Such operations require a certain surgical skill, a special set of micro-instruments and are performed under X-ray control (EOC).
The “mini-invasive” method has a number of advantages: there are no surgical incisions, mini-punctures heal very quickly, there is no trauma to soft tissues...
But there is also a limitation in the use of this minimally invasive surgery: such operations can be performed only in the initial stages of hallux valgus deformity of 1 toe (grade I).
With higher degrees (II and III degrees) of deformity of the 1st toe, and this is the highest percentage of cases treated, minimally invasive surgery is usually ineffective.
Based on the foregoing, in our practice we perform minimally invasive operations only in the very initial stages of deformity (hallux valgus stage I), or as an addition to “open” surgery to eliminate hallux valgus of 1 finger (varus osteotomy of the proximal phalanx of 1 finger (AKIN)) , or with combined pathology of the forefoot (hammer deformities of 2-3-4 toes, metatarsalgia of the feet).
We perform most reconstructive operations for hallux valgus deformity of the first toe using the so-called “open” method.
Today, high-tech methods of surgical treatment of hallux valgus deformity of the 1st toe are successfully used in orthopedics. There are several types of operations, but the staged operational tactics are standard.
In case of severe deformity, varius wedge osteotomy of the proximal phalanx of the 1st finger (AKIN) is used as an addition to osteotomy of the 1st metatarsal bone. If the metatarsocuneiform joint is unstable, we perform arthrodesis.
In 2009, fixation with NEXTFEET bioabsorbable screws (France) was introduced into practice (for the first time in Moscow), but now we do not use these screws due to an insufficient degree of stability.
titanium compression cannulated
screw BOLD (Newdeal)
NEXTFEET cannulated screw
You can view photos of the stages of the operation (SCARF) on the “bone” of the foot by going to this presentation. The impressionable please do not watch.
Such operations have proven themselves in world orthopedic practice and are the so-called “gold standard” in the treatment of hallux valgus. The effectiveness of these operations is close to 100 percent; recurrence of deformity (reappearance of “bunions” in the feet) is, as a rule, excluded.
When a hallux valgus deformity of 1 toe is combined with another pathology of the forefoot (hallux interphalangeus, hammertoe deformities of 2-4 toes, metatarsalgia of the foot, Morton's neuroma, Taylor's deformity), the entire necessary range of surgical intervention is performed simultaneously.
Stages of treatment (information for patients):
Sports activities after removal of cones on the legs are allowed 5 months after surgery.
Significant deviation of the big toe can be caused by prolonged use of uncomfortable shoes or initially developed flat feet. In this case, the use of high heels is especially harmful. The pain that accompanies this curvature of the finger may require surgical intervention, including removal of the bone.
Bumps on the legs most often occur in the second half of a person’s life. Advanced age may be an obstacle to surgery. Although, according to statistics, hallux valgus deformity of the toes is getting younger. If previously the critical age in this regard was considered to be 35-45 years, now cases of deformation are recorded starting from 20-25 years.
If a toe deformity occurs, various conservative treatment and prevention methods are possible. However, they take quite a long time, and a moment may be missed when the correction could be more effective. For example, to remove bunions with a laser, there is no need to cut the soft tissue of the foot. It is called resurfacing, since a laser is used to remove layer by layer of bone growth and the previously formed lump gradually decreases in size. That is, using pinpoint manipulation, the surgeon removes the bones on the legs.
After such an operation, plaster fixation is not required and the patient can walk fully the next day. This surgical removal of the valgus is, in fact, not “removing” the bunion, but merely correcting it. In addition to the laser method, a number of other, no less reliable, but more traumatic methods are used: minimally invasive and reconstructive surgeries.
Numerous reviews from patients who have undergone laser resurfacing of valgus indicate their high assessment of this method. When the laser instrument operates, thermal removal of the layer of bone cells from the growth occurs, followed by immediate healing of the soft tissue through which the medical laser beam has penetrated. This is why bunion surgery is painless and does not require postoperative rehabilitation.
A mandatory requirement after polishing is that you must carefully monitor the quality of the shoes you wear and avoid the use of high heels. This is not difficult to do, but will ultimately prevent the recurrence of your foot deformity. Physical therapy for the feet never hurts either.
For a long time, removal of a bunion on the big toe was associated with long postoperative rehabilitation. In addition, long-term fixation of the foot with plaster was required. The operation itself on the bunion was carried out by excision of the deformed phalanx of the finger and putting it in place. Deviation of the thumb bone to the side, in the area of the joint, is otherwise called valgus deviation, from the Latin word for “crooked.” The development of surgical methods for correcting valgus deviation makes it possible to do without a painful operation, as was the case before.
Thanks to the use of a medical laser and other modern methods, the operation of removing a bunion has actually turned into an operation to correct its deformity. To prevent developing valgus from turning into a large bone growth that interferes with walking, it is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of this bone on the leg. Modern operations no longer require long-term rehabilitation of the foot using plaster. Therefore, it makes sense to immediately take radical measures.
Despite the gentle methods of operations on the bones of the foot available in orthopedic practice, it should be remembered that there may be contraindications. Chronic diseases such as circulatory or innervation disorders of the foot can cause serious consequences after surgery. The same applies to diseases such as diabetes and blood pathologies.
Before surgery is performed on the bunion of the big toe, a preliminary x-ray examination of the deformed toe is mandatory. It is necessary to assess the degree of deformation, the size of the build-up, determination of the angle of displacement, and the condition of the ligaments. Other tests will be needed:
The big toe has only two phalanges. It bears a significant part of the load during a person’s walking. That is why there is an increased risk of bone deformation and its recurrence after removal of the lump. Therefore, the effectiveness of treatment depends on the rehabilitation of the foot in the postoperative period.
Reviews about bunion surgery, which can be found quite often on the Internet, are often subjective. It all depends on what kind of operation was performed and how successful it was.
Conservative methods include the use of specialized orthopedic insoles and shoe bolsters, rubbing in special creams and ointments, and gymnastic exercises for the feet. In addition, salt foot baths are used. In the initial stages of deformation, you can do without removing the bones on your feet. In this case, it is important not to start the process, that is, the treatment should be constant until the signs of deformation and pain completely disappear. Anyone who removed a valgus will agree with this statement, since he himself experienced the discomfort of surgical intervention.
Leg surgery always carries a certain risk that in the event of weight gain, injury to the foot or lower leg, the previously corrected deformity may recur. The greatest risk in this regard arises when, for the sake of fashion trends, the advice of orthopedic doctors regarding shoes is neglected.
The human foot consists of a large number of bones of varying sizes and strengths, held together by ligaments. The tendons of the foot muscles, which are responsible for shock absorption when walking, running and jumping, are attached to them. Therefore, the feet must be well trained to withstand these loads. With deformities in the area of the finger joints, inflammatory processes can also develop, damaging not only bone tissue, but also the soft tissue of the joint capsule and tendon.
It should be borne in mind that in the first or second stage of hallux valgus deformity, conservative treatment methods can be used. In these initial stages, surgery to remove a bunion is not indicated.
When the deformity of the toes has entered the third stage, the issue of pathology of the foot bones must be resolved promptly. Although, in the first two stages it is possible to treat it without surgery: with medication and orthopedic means. In the first case, injections of various steroids are made into the joint area to prevent bone deformation.
Orthopedic treatment involves the use of special fixators and correctors that ensure the anatomically correct position of the toes. This will distribute and slightly reduce the load on the foot. Under conditions of reducing the deforming influence of the load, the bone eventually returns to its original position. Along with the use of orthopedic devices, a course of physiotherapy is carried out.
As a result of a course of physiotherapy, the lump that has begun to form on the big toe begins to dissolve and disappears. The course is usually based on well-known procedures that reliably ensure the recovery process. In particular:
Before using any procedures, for the greatest effect it is necessary to consult a specialist doctor so as not to aggravate the onset of finger deformation.