A bunion is a visible, bony bump that forms at the joint of the toe. It occurs when some of the bones in the front part of your foot move out of place. This causes the tip of your big toe to get pulled toward the smaller toes and forces the joint at the base to stick out producing the bunion’s “bump”.
Bunions often occur when the joint is stressed over a period of time. It reflects changes in the actual alignment of the bones in the foot. It is more common in women because they often wear shoes that crowd the toes such as shoes with a tight toe box or high heels.
There are many theories about how bunions develop, but the exact cause is unknown. Factors likely include:
Aside from the causes mentioned above, experts also consider some risk factors involved in the development of bunions. These includes:
The signs and symptoms of a bunion include:
To treat bunions, set an appointment with a doctor who specializes in treating foot disorders (podiatrist or orthopedic foot specialist) to be guided accordingly. Your doctor can identify a bunion by examining your foot and through some imaging tests.
He might consider two ways of treatment. These are either a conservative treatment or surgical options. However, surgical options can only be done when conservative treatment doesn’t relieve the symptoms.
Bunion surgery generally involves making an incision in the top or on the side of the big toe joint area and removing or realigning soft tissue and bone. The goals of bunion surgery include:
You may have to consider surgery if your bunion results in persistent, severe pain that limits your daily activities, or if you have a severe foot deformity. Contact us to consult with our experienced doctors.