Hallux Valgus Deformity (Bunion)

Conservative treatments (e.g., orthoses and night splints) did not appear to be any more beneficial in improving outcomes and preventing progression than no treatment (4). Evidence suggests that custom-made orthoses are a safe intervention that may slightly decrease pain at 6 and 12 months (but no continued decrease in pain after 12 months) compared to no treatment; however, this improvement is less than that seen with surgical interventions (see below) (6). When bunions occur in children or adolescents, the condition may be termed juvenile or adolescent hallux valgus, respectively, and is thought to have an etiology different from that in the adult population. A bunion (hallux valgus) is an enlargement of the bone or tissue around a joint at the base of the big toe or at the base of the little toe (in which case it is called a “bunionette” or “tailor’s bunion”). Bunions often occur when the joint is stressed over a prolonged period. Ninety percent of bunions occur in women, primarily because women may be more likely to wear tight, pointed, and confining shoes. Bunions may be inherited as a family trait. Bunions may also result from arthritis, which often affects the big toe joint. Think complications can't happen? This is a picture of an over-corrected bunion deformity; what is known as hallux varus In an effort to move the big toe away from the second toe, the surgeon (someone else), moved the big toe too far in the opposite direction. Now the patient has even more trouble finding comfortable shoes and needless to say is quite unhappy with the appearance of her foot. Here is the Austin bunionectomy. The metatarsal bone is surgically broken with precise cuts in an effort to realign the bone (osteotomy). With the great fixation procedures that we have today people can walk after this bunion osteotomy. It is known that footwear is considered to be the major extrinsic factor of Hallux Valgus. The current widespread use of shoes of different types and models can cause the development of this condition if the shoes do not fit or if a person has other serious diseases, such as arthritis, rheumatism, and many others. The numerous researches which were conducted by the foot specialists prove the fact that those people who wear ill-sorted shoes have serious foot pathology. (Myerson & Edwards, 1997) You can be actively involved in your treatmentwith a few simple steps. The first goal is to get the inflammation undercontrol, followed by long-term prevention of recurrence. Bunions most commonly affect women. Some studies report that bunion symptoms occur nearly 10 times more frequently in women. It has been suggested that tight-fitting shoes, especially high-heel and narrow-toed shoes, might increase the risk for bunion formation. Tight footwear certainly is a factor in precipitating the pain and swelling of bunions. Complaints of bunions are reported to be more prevalent in people who wear shoes than in barefoot people Symptoms of hallux limitus consist of pain and stiffness in the joint when walking, standing, and especially squatting. There may be an increase in pain in colder temperatures and damp weather. There is often swelling at the joint. That said, on the first visit before he knew who did my surgery he said, "your Doctors call not to correct the misalignment upon discovery of it, and choose to "hope for the best" was a call that your surgeon made that in my opinion falls below the standard of care I'd would offer my patients. It falls below a common standard of care in general, that's an HMO for you, it probably wouldn't have covered the correction". Measurement of angles between bones on radiographic images is used to determine severity of the deformity, monitor progression, and indicate the best course for surgical correction. A bunion has the tendency to increase in size due to excessive weight load and from shoe pressure. It causes widening of the forefoot and May in turn cause your gait to become off balance. Although, not as common, a bunion on your small toe is called a tailors bunion. If athletic, you can make a slit in the bunion area to allow for extra room and less pressure. If you overpronate, try a commercial arch support to help take some of the weight off the bunion. Heading out now to look for shoes with built in bunion splints that are fashionable. I'll probably be gone for awhile. Today, podiatric medication has improved a lot with the advancement of medical science. Most practices limit podiatry treatment to diseases involving the feet and ankle joint but there are also people who expand the management to surgeries and addressing with leg conditions. There are also practices that include medical, surgical or both. Patients will need to consult with a podiatrist if they are stressed with fungal nail infection or athlete's foot that is caused by a same strain of fungi. Management will either be relevant or oral anti fungal medications, which may take months before it can totally get rid of the condition. Sometimes merely changing the type of shoes you wear can prevent the worsening of a bunion. Irrespective of gender, switching from a tight, pointed toe shoe to a sandal can help enormously. So can the wearing of a bunion shoe, available from most orthopaedic shoe stores. Both shoe styles remove the source of pressure on the bunion and have a wider forefront to accommodate a bunioned foot. If your desire for fashion precludes such a change of shoe style, then remember, a consequence could well be that your bunion will progressively get, bigger, uglier and increasingly painful.