A bunion is a painful bony bump that projects out from the inside of the foot at the big toe joint. Bunions usually develop slowly and cause more pain over time as they increase in size. They are formed when a misalignment of the bones in your feet causes your big toe joint to grow in size and protrude out.
The bunion sticking out from your forefoot can cause pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness. The exact causes of bunions are unknown but studies have shown a genetic inheritability of the condition and certain foot types seem more prone to getting bunions.
Treatment Options
Bunions don’t go away on their own and most treatment options focus on relieving the symptoms. These include bunion pads to cushion the area, changes in footwear to take the pressure off your feet, or orthotic devices to manage alignment issues.
None of these options are curative and are intended to alleviate pain and discomfort. If your bunions have progressed to a stage where walking becomes difficult, then the recommended course of action may be to undergo bunion surgery in Singapore.
Bunion Surgery
Traditional open bunion surgeries are invasive and involve removing the enlarged bone forming the bunion, before realigning the muscles, tendons, and ligaments around the joint. It is usually painful and recovery can take several weeks. Patients will also have to be reliant on continuous support from dressings and braces for proper healing. Physical therapy might also be required to rebuild strength in the operated joints.
However, new minimally invasive surgery techniques have been developed with the goal being to correct bunion issues with as little direct intervention as possible. They provide myriad benefits over open bunion surgery, and are fast being touted as a preferred option for many patients by orthopaedic doctors in Singapore.
Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery
Minimally invasive bunion surgery is performed using multiple small incisions as opposed to the one long cut that is required for open bunion surgeries. The smaller incisions are guided by X-ray imaging and serve to allow a surgical burr to make fine cuts.
Excess bones are removed through the small incisions which only need a few stitches to close up. Small corrections to the bones can also be made through the incisions to reposition the bones. These realignments are held in place with strong implants which allow immediate weight bearing by the patient.
Learn More: 4 Types Of Surgeries That Orthopaedic Surgeons Offer
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery
In comparison to open bunion surgery in Singapore where a surgical saw is used to cut through bone, minimally invasive bunion surgery looks to reduce pain and decrease recovery time.
Pain after minimally invasive surgery is limited to a few days. In fact minimally invasive surgery can even be performed as a day surgery with painkillers only required for 3-5 days due to the far less traumatic nature of the surgery. Recovery timelines range from a few weeks for resumption of normal activities, to a few months to return to full impact sports.
An additional benefit of minimally invasive bunion surgery over open surgery is the lack of scarring. Open surgery usually leaves a long scar down your toe joint while minimally invasive surgery only has a few incisions which are less noticeable as they heal.
Developing bunions in your feet is a common issue that many people around the world face as they age. In many cases they can be managed with lifestyle changes, specially designed orthotics, or pain medication. If you have a more severe case that requires surgery, then new techniques that limit the amount of trauma and intervention involved can help speed up recovery and minimise any long term aftereffects.
Have a question about bunions for a foot and ankle specialist in Singapore? Reach out to us via our contact us page with your queries and our support team will get back to you with answers or set up an appointment for a consultation.
