What is a Bunion?
Hallux valgus or bunion is a deformity that occurs when the big toe angles towards the other toes and produces a lump on the inside of the foot known as a bunion. It is the most common deformity observed on the forefoot and generally tends to affect women who wear pointed shoes and high heels.
Bunion explained in first person
Not everyone with bunions or hallux valgus needs an operation. First, there are people who have hallux valgus but it doesn’t bother them. They don’t need surgery. We operate on people who have painful bunions, where preventative measures and palliative treatments have failed.
Don’t be afraid of surgery. The operation is very quick. The technique has changed a lot. It used to be terribly painful afterwards, and now it isn’t as bad. If you take the painkillers as prescribed, there’s no problem, it doesn’t hurt.
It is characteristically seen as a widening of the foot with a bone protuberance or bump that forms in the joint at the base of the big toe (bunion) and makes it point towards the smaller adjacent toes (hallux valgus).
Types of bunion
Hallux valgus are classified depending on the degree of the deformity and the extent of the angle of deviation of the affected bone structure. Depending on this, it is said that the hallux valgus is mild, moderate, or severe.
Foot deformities like the bunion are more common in people that usually wear closed, narrow shoes with a high heel. On the other hand, bunions do not appear with the wearing of open footwear (for example, sandals).
Substantiated information by:
Published: 20 February 2018
Updated: 20 February 2018
Subscribe
Receive the latest updates related to this content.
Thank you for subscribing!
If this is the first time you subscribe you will receive a confirmation email, check your inbox