Learn About Bunions

What is the definition of Bunions?

A bunion forms when your big toe points outward toward your second toe. This causes a bump to appear on the inside edge of your toe.

What are the alternative names for Bunions?

Hallux valgus

What are the causes of Bunions?

Bunions are more common in women than men. The problem can run in families. People born with abnormal alignment of the bones in their feet are more likely to form a bunion.

Wearing narrow-toed, high-heeled shoes may lead to the development of a bunion.

The condition may become painful as the bump gets worse. Extra bone and a fluid-filled sac can grow at the base of the big toe.

What are the symptoms of Bunions?

Symptoms may include:

  • Red, thickened skin along the inside edge at the base of the big toe.
  • A bony bump at the first toe joint, with decreased movement in the toe.
  • Pain over the joint, which pressure from shoes makes worse.
  • Big toe turned outward toward the other toes and may cross over the second toe. As a result, corns and calluses often develop where the first and second toes overlap.
  • Difficulty wearing regular shoes.

You may have problems finding shoes that fit or shoes that do not cause pain.

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What are the current treatments for Bunions?

When a bunion first begins to develop, you can do the following to care for your feet.

  • Wear wide-toed shoes. This can often solve the problem and prevent you from needing more treatment.
  • Wear felt or foam pads on your foot to protect the bunion, or devices called spacers to separate the first and second toes. These are available at drugstores.
  • Try cutting a hole in a pair of old, comfortable shoes to wear around the house.
  • Talk to your provider about whether you need inserts to correct flat feet.
  • Stretch the calf muscle of your leg to have better alignment of your feet.
  • If the bunion gets worse and more painful, surgery may help. The surgery called bunionectomy realigns the toe and removes the bony bump. There are more than 100 different surgeries to treat this condition. Please discuss with your surgeon which type can help you and why.
Who are the top Bunions Local Doctors?
Podiatric Medicine | Podiatric Surgery
Podiatric Medicine | Podiatric Surgery

University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center At Dallas

2001 Inwood Rd, 
Dallas, TX 
 24.6 mi

George Liu is a Podiatric Medicine specialist and a Podiatric Surgeon in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Liu and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Bunions. His top areas of expertise are Bunions, Synovitis, Tendinitis, Flat Feet, and Fasciotomy.

Podiatric Medicine | Podiatric Surgery
Podiatric Medicine | Podiatric Surgery

University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center At Dallas

5323 Harry Hines Blvd, 
Dallas, TX 
 24.6 mi

Katherine Raspovic is a Podiatric Medicine specialist and a Podiatric Surgeon in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Raspovic has been practicing medicine for over 16 years and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Bunions. Her top areas of expertise are Bunions, Ledderhose Disease, Clubfoot, Flat Feet, and Tenotomy.

 
 
 
 
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Podiatric Surgery | Orthopedics
Podiatric Surgery | Orthopedics

University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center At Dallas

5323 Harry Hines Blvd, 
Dallas, TX 
 24.6 mi

Dane Wukich is a Podiatric Surgeon and an Orthopedics provider in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Wukich has been practicing medicine for over 43 years and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Bunions. His top areas of expertise are Bunions, Flat Feet, Tendinitis, Osteotomy, and Leg or Foot Amputation.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Bunions?

You can keep a bunion from worsening by taking care of it. Try to wear different shoes when it first starts to develop.

Teenagers may have more trouble treating a bunion than adults. This may be the result of an underlying bone problem or growth changes.

Surgery reduces the pain in many, but not all people with bunions. After surgery, you may not be able to wear tight or fashionable shoes.

When should I contact a medical professional for Bunions?

Contact your provider if the bunion:

  • Continues to cause pain, even after self-care such as wearing wide-toed shoes
  • Prevents you from doing your usual activities
  • Has any signs of infection (such as redness or swelling), especially if you have diabetes
  • Worsening pain that is not relieved by rest
  • Prevents you from finding a shoe that fits
  • Causes stiffness and loss of movement in your big toe
How do I prevent Bunions?

Avoid compressing the toes of your foot with narrow, poor-fitting shoes.

What are the latest Bunions Clinical Trials?
A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo- and Active-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of CPL-01 in the Management of Postoperative Pain After Unilateral Distal First Metatarsal Bunionectomy With Osteotomy

Summary: Subjects receive study drug during bunionectomy and are followed for pain and opioid use, with the hypothesis that those who receive CPL-01 will have less pain and less opioid use than either control arm.

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Hallux Abductus Valgus and Extensor Hallux Longus: Relationship Between Them, Preoperative and Postoperative Assessment, Pressure Platform and Treatment by MIS Surgery

Summary: The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the relationship between Hallux Abductus Valgus (HAV) and the hyperextension of the Extensor Hallucis Longus (EHL) tendon. The study aims to understand the efficacy of MIS surgery in treating foot deformities like HAV and to evaluate the impact of EHL tendon hyperextension on this condition. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * How d...

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: June 17, 2024
Published By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

Greisberg JK, Vosseller JT. Hallux valgus. In: Greisberg JK, Vosseller JT, eds. Core Knowledge in Orthopaedics: Foot and Ankle. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:56-63.

Murphy GA. Disorders of the hallux. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 82.

Wexler D, Campbell ME, Grosser DM. Kile TA. Bunion and bunionette. In: Frontera, WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD Jr, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 84.