There are many types of bunion surgery but the most common are ‘scarf osteotomy’ and ‘chevron osteotomy’, both of which are carried out at the Fortius Clinic.
Bunion surgery is usually carried out as a day case procedure under a general anaesthetic along with an injection into the foot to numb it and reduce pain after the operation.
During the procedure the surgeon will usually make two incisions (cuts) around the big toe and remove the bony bump on the side of the foot, realigning your toe. The metatarsal bone is then cut (known as an osteotomy ) to reposition the bones and effectively narrow your foot. The osteotomy is held in place with small metal screws that remain in the foot.
Immediately after surgery:
During the first few weeks:
Everyone is different, so healing and post-operative programmes vary from person to person. However, the schedule of follow-up appointments below is typical:
Your surgeon will be able to advise you about this, as every case is different. However, below is a guide to what may be advised:
For the first two weeks after surgery, it’s important to keep the bandaging totally dry although you can shower with a waterproof cover over the plaster. After two weeks, you can remove the cover if the wound is healed, but gently dab the wound dry and then re-apply your toe splint.
Once out of bandaging, don’t pull at your scabs but let them fall away naturally. If your wound becomes red, swollen or sore, contact the Fortius Clinic and arrange to see your consultant to check it’s not infected.
You will be referred to a physiotherapist who can guide you through the stages of rehabilitation including gait re-education (learning to walk correctly again), toe mobilisation exercises, swelling reduction and reducing muscle tightness.
The DVLA states that it’s the responsibility of the driver to ensure they are always in control of the vehicle. A good guide is if you can stamp down hard with the foot to stop the car during an emergency stop. Being able to do this can take at least six weeks.
Although your specialist will advise you about when it’s safe to start driving again, it remains your responsibility to drive safely and you should also check with your vehicle insurer to confirm you are covered.
This depends on the type of work you do and how quickly you recover. As a general guide, if your job involves sitting down for most of the time, you should be able to return to work after four weeks; if it involves manual work, you may need to have up to eight weeks off.
This is a very successful procedure, with 90% patient satisfaction rates. You can expect:
Below is a guide to the risks of this type of surgery. However, your surgeon will discuss these with you before your procedure, and answer any questions you may have:
Important:This information is only a guideline to help you understand your treatment and what to expect. Everyone is different and your rehabilitation may be quicker or slower than other people’s. Please contact us for advice if you’re worried about any aspect of your health or recovery