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Hunk on the foot: why it appears and how to cure it permanently!

What is a bunion?

The “bunion” or more correctly hallux valgus, is a bony protrusion that appears at the base of the big toe and is due to the increase in the angle between the 1st metatarsal and the 1st toe. Essentially, it is the head of the 1st metatarsal that gradually protrudes more and more on the inner side of the foot. The toe tilts outward and the bunion slowly grows, causing pain, difficulty walking and problems with shoes. It is not only an aesthetic issue – it can affect our daily life and quality of life.

Why does it appear?

The main reasons are:

• Heredity: it plays a dominant role, as it is more often observed in people with a family history.
• Shoes: narrow or high heels are a big burden.
• Foot shape: flat feet or loose joints increase the risk.
• Gender: women suffer from it more often.
• Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis

What are the symptoms?

• Bump at the base of the big toe.
• Pain or burning, especially with shoes.
• Calluses (hyperkeratosis) around the point.
• Metarsalgia below the second or even third metatarsal.
• Deformities (e.g. Hammertoe) of the second or even third toe in neglected cases.
• Difficulty walking.

In the early stages it may not bother you much, but often as time goes by the condition worsens.

What can I do without surgery?

In the early stages:

• Wear comfortable and wide shoes with low heels.
• We use special pads or splints that reduce friction pressure.
• Silicone pads may help with metatarsalgia.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs relieve pain temporarily.

These solutions do not correct the bunion, but they are temporarily relieving.

When is surgery needed?

When the pain is bothersome or the deformity worsens, or even choosing shoes becomes difficult, the solution is corrective surgery. Today, surgeries are performed with:

• Small incisions – a few millimeters (fourth generation percutaneous surgery), i.e. modern minimally invasive techniques (with the exception of very large deformities).
• Rapid recovery: walking immediately with a special shoe.
• Excellent results, with correction of both the ankle and the position of the toe.

In most cases, the patient returns to his daily activities in a few weeks.

Can it be prevented?

It is not always possible to avoid it, especially if there is a heredity. However, we can reduce the chances by:

• choosing the right shoes
• visiting the doctor promptly at the first signs.

Conclusion

A bunion is a common and annoying problem that can make our daily lives very difficult. Fortunately, today there are solutions. Modern, safe surgical techniques offer definitive treatment and a return to a comfortable, active life.

At the 5th Orthopaedic Clinic of the Inter-Balkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki, we have the know-how, special equipment and many years of experience in Foot, Ankle and Knee Surgery with an emphasis on modern methods and minimally invasive techniques.