How Bunions Develop
Aug 09, 2022
If you are experiencing chronic inflammation, irritation, and foot pain due to bunions, bunion surgery could help. Bunions do not heal on their own so some type of treatment is always needed. If you have tried more conservative methods for treating bunions without success, you should consider bunion surgery. The board-certified podiatrist at Los Angeles Institute of Foot and Ankle Surgery in Northridge, Santa Clarita, and Burbank, CA, perform bunion surgery.
A bunion is a bony protrusion that forms on the side of the foot just below the big toe. The bump is caused by the big toe slanting toward the smaller ones. As the big toe slants one direction, the dislocated bone slants the opposite way and pushes against the side of the foot forming a bony bump. One of the reasons bunions can be so painful is due to the friction produced when the interior of the shoes rubs against the bunion, which can result in inflammation.
Bunions usually develop as a result of a dislocated metatarsophalangeal joint where the bones meet at the base of the big toe. The joint could become dislocated due to many factors, such as an injury, arthritis, a structural deformity, or repeatedly wearing shoes that are too tight or narrow.
Bunions do not heal on their own so it is important to seek treatment. Some non-surgical methods for treating bunions include wearing custom orthotics to stabilize the toe joint, inserting protective padding in the shoes to reduce friction, and wearing night splints to realign the dislocated joint. However, if conservative treatments have not provided sufficient relief, bunion surgery can help. The experienced foot surgeons and podiatrists at our office in Burbank, CA, can determine when bunion surgery is needed.
Bunion surgery is referred to as a bunionectomy and can be performed multiple ways. Some methods involve cutting the bone so that it can be realigned in the correct position. In some cases, the joint might be fused together with a pin or screw to prevent further dislocation. Bunion surgery can also involve treating the ligaments around the dislocated toe. Our skilled foot surgeons will recommend the appropriate bunion surgery for you.
It is time to consider bunion surgery if more conservative treatment methods have not fully resolved the problem. For bunion surgery in Burbank, CA, call the Los Angeles Institute of Foot and Ankle Surgery at (818) 848-5588 to schedule a consultation. Additional offices are conveniently located in Northridge and Santa Clarita, CA.