SURGERY: ORTHOPEDIC, SUMMER 2001

PODIATRY REVIEW, January 2001

A bunion is a painful and often disabling, the prominence at the base of big toe (hallux) which causes discomfort, especially when walking, while the shoes.

A bunion or hallux valgus, as is known medically, is a common condition that affects more women than men and incidence increases with age. The causes of the disease are multifactorial. However, factors important are genetics (family). In addition to an inherent tendency for patients to develop bunions, there are a number of risk factors, including:

Inappropriate footwear

Inflammatory problems of the metatarsophalangeal joint

Neurological (nerve) problems

Trauma in the toe itself.

The condition most commonly manifests itself in patients aged 50 years or more, however, also occurs frequently when the patient is a teenager or early 20s.

The patient experiences increased pain and swelling on the inner side of the great toe occurs a red, painful, tense swelling. This usually causes pain when walking and can even cause pain at rest.

The anatomy of a bunion

A bunion is caused by an abnormality in the position of the bones in the foot and big toe. Instead of being online, collection of flat end to end, the bone along the inside of the foot (first metatarsal) and the first bone of the big toe (hallux) meet at an angle (valgus deformity).

The deformity also means that the ball of the big toe is not positioned correctly in two small bones (sesamoids) under the sole. These act sesamoid bones as two mini-knee caps for toe and usually allow the flexor tendons to act through its axis.

Over time, the pressure cause inflammation of footwear notebook full of fluid (the bag), which acts to reduce friction on the inside of the joint and the joint swells all pain. In addition, the metatarsal bone grows a projection (an exostosis), and the tendons of the shoes of the top and bottom around the inside of the metatarsal bone.

How Is it curable?

The only way they can be corrected by surgery. In the past, surgery had meant to leave the foot in plaster for up to three months. Called an osteotomy, this conventional surgery involves cutting a piece of bone and repositioning both ends to try to straighten the finger.

New treatments are now available, which involve the use of specially designed cutting through the bone support the toe, allowing the accurate correction of the problem. These new cuts through the bone are associated with the use of modern devices such as specially designed fixing screws or staples. Very advanced titanium alloy staples, which have been kept in the freezer, are inserted. The alloy has been pre-programmed to return to its original shape when heated, and secures the ends of bones together.

These new techniques allow very precise correction with less pain and more rapid rehabilitation. Such surgery can be performed as a day case, patients spend 10-14 days on the tablets and after four weeks in the trainers. After that, patients can move in any suitable footwear they want.

This surgery is performed a number of hospitals including foot Hospital Devonshire and ankle unit in London.

About the Author:

Mr Simon Moyes is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Wellington & Devonshire Hospitals, London and webmaster of www.simonmoyes.com which is the source of this article.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Bunion Surgery

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