Bunions, those uncomfortable day-to-day companions that make wearing some shoes become a real ordeal . Many women fear the recovery that comes with a “simple” bunion , but the truth is that today, surgery to treat this problem has evolved. What type of foot surgery for bunion treatment is the most recommended? What minimally invasive surgery techniques can be used to have a bunion surgery? This is what the experts in percutaneous foot surgery tell us.
What types of foot surgery exist for the treatment of bunions?
Until a few decades ago, only one type of surgery was applied to treat bunions : the open operation. However, surgical research has found more effective and less painful formulas for bunion surgery.
Let’s see which are the two types of surgery that are most used to treat bunions of the feet .
Open bunion surgery
In open bunion surgery , a large incision is made, revealing to the surgeon the true extent of damage caused by this deviation of the bone.
Thanks to this opening and exposure, the doctor can assess the action on other structures that have been damaged and that prevent the foot from supporting normally. In this way, if everything goes properly during recovery, the bunion treatment will be more stable.
However, this type of foot surgery entails greater pain in the patient, accompanied by a slower recovery time . It must be taken into account that during the incision, the soft parts of the foot are opened, in addition to the possible interventions in the soft areas involved in the cause of the bunion.
Therefore, the period of hospitalization necessary after a bunion operation is two or three days .
Percutaneous or minimally invasive foot surgery to operate bunions
Percutaneous or minimally invasive surgery (MIS) , on the other hand, does make an incision but this is less than 5 mm. This implies that the interior of the damaged area is not exposed, but rather it is evaluated through an X-ray machine that guides the surgeon on where the damage is and how to deal with it.
In this way, the soft tissues suffer less, it is less painful for the patient and the post-operation recovery period is shorter.
In fact, as specialists comment, in the mildest cases even the patient can walk out of the operating room , wearing orthopedic shoes, they clarify.
Since the incision is minimal, the hospitalization period disappears, and the patient is discharged the same day as the bunion operation.
How to choose the right foot surgery for bunion treatment for each case
A priori, anyone may think that minimally invasive surgery is, of course, the best way to operate on a bunion. The truth is that the medical decision is based on different factors such as the type of deformity that is faced, the age of the patient, or the medical history.
And it is that in the case of people with severe or severe peripheral vascular insufficiency, it is not recommended to start a bunion operation. Nor if you have a foot infection or are getting over a recent one.
In general terms, for the rest of the patients, there are no contraindications to operating the bunion , being the patient himself who decides what type of foot surgery he accepts to eliminate the bunion.
It must be taken into account that not all clinics have the necessary material to perform percutaneous foot surgery.
Basic care after bunion surgery
Whether you opt for one or another foot surgery for the treatment of bunions, once at home you need to follow a series of basic recommendations.
First, keep your foot elevated for short periods of time. This prevents inflammation that can complicate bone recovery.
It is very important to use only specific postoperative footwear , especially in the case of patients undergoing percutaneous surgery.
Finally, in case of discomfort, take painkillers only under a medical prescription.
After all this journey, you will be able to put on those shoes that you keep in the closet while waiting to be able to walk them.
