Many people develop bunions. In fact, it is one of the most common maladies treated by podiatrists. A bunion is a large bump that typically develops on the joint of the big toe, but may also affect other toe joints. When one forms on the pinky toe, it is called a bunionette.

Early treatment and prevention is the best way to take care of bunions, but many individuals are not aware of how problematic their bunions have become until they are experiencing severe pain and discomfort, at which point the bunion may require a surgical procedure for optimum relief.

If your bunion is causing debilitating pain and inflammation that doesn’t retreat with rest and icing, and if daily routines are curtailed due the condition, surgery may be the best option—especially if you have great difficulty with toe mobility.

Some types of bunion surgery include:

• Exostectomy—This surgery is used to remove the bony protrusions that form on the metatarsal joints.
• Osteotomy—Your foot surgeon will perform a series of tiny incisions along the deformed toe bone and realign them in the proper position, often locking them in place with hardware ties.
• Arthrodesis—This procedure removes the surfaces of the bones and holds them together with hardware until the bones grow into each other.
• Arthroplasty Resection—This type of surgery to remove the damaged part of the joint to increase flexibility results in decreased toe strength, so it is typically used in severe cases and for elderly patients.

An experienced foot care professional is instrumental in determining which type of bunion surgery is best for you. At Your Next Step, our team of board-certified podiatrists has access to advanced technologies, along with years of experience, to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, including sports injuries, joint pain, toe deformities, nail fungus, chronic tendon pain, and skin problems. Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen provide high quality foot and ankle care to patients in the greater Philadelphia area at our offices conveniently located in Ardmore, Paoli, and Downingtown, PA. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.