Hallux Valgus
(bunions)
Bunions are a common problem, they are thought to occur due to a muscle imbalance in the foot. This condition is often inherited, with bunions more common in women than in men. Narrow footwear may contribute to bunions, but is often not the primary cause.
Bunions worsen with advancing age – eventually causing pain and deformity in some patients. The muscles pull and rotate the great toe. The bunion can cause pain and damage elsewhere in the foot. Surgery for bunions is considered when the deformity causes significant pain or difficulty with footwear.
Treatment options:
Non operative treatment
Toe spacers
Modification of shoes
Night splints
Wide fitting shoes that allow room for the bunion
Operative treatment
The primary goal is to re-align the bones to improve foot mechanics.
This removes the painful bump and reduces the chance of recurrence.
Each bunion is different – clinical assessment and imaging will help decide the most appropriate surgery
Other procedures may be performed at the same time as the bunion correction to relieve or prevent problems elsewhere in the foot
Surgeries performed for hallux valgus include:
Figure 1 - Clinical photograph of a right foot with hallux valgus (bunion) deformity
Figure 2 - stylised diagram of a normal foot (A) and a foot with a bunion (B) demonstrating the muscle imbalance that causes the deformity
Figure 3: The adductor hallucis muscle attaches to the base of the big toe and pulls it towards the little toe, contributing to the bunion deformity