When resorting to bunion surgery
Written by:What is the bunion, how can it evolve and how does it resolve?
The Bunion or Hallux Valgus is a deviation of the first toe outward and the first metatarsal inward , which causes a thrust of the fingers caused by the deviation of the first finger and a pain in the inner part of the foot caused by the increased thickness of the head of the first metatarsal that goes deep into the foot. Over the years, the deviation is progressing, which pushes the fingers more and more from a light to medium or severe grade bunion.. Bunion surgery can now be performed percutaneously or by minimal incision, which has the advantage that the patient can be operated with local anesthesia and can ambulate from the first day.
How important is the genetic inheritance in the bunion?
The causes of the bunion on the one hand are the environmental ones, such as narrow toe shoes and high heels. And fundamentally also the inheritance, because it is transmitted through generations, being predominantly affection of the female sex 1 to 10.
Is a differential diagnosis essential and planning the intervention?
In view of a surgical intervention it is important, after the clinical analysis of the patient, the observation of the way of walking or walking and the radiographic analysis, to plan the geometric lines where the different cuts will have to be made to obtain an ideal result. We do this through computer programs of the AutoCad type.
What is percutaneous or minimally invasive surgery?
The surgery of the bunion by percutaneous or minimally invasive technique consists of carrying out actions by an incision of 2 millimeters in length by which small, narrow, 2-millimeter instruments can be introduced, in order to be able to carry out modifications in he axis of the first metatarsal and the first finger. It is carried out by local anesthesia and by supplying the patient with a tranquilizer and, by means of these small incisions, the excessive thickness of the bone is eliminated and both the axis of the first metatarsal and the axis of the first phalanx are modified . After putting a small bandage the patient can wander with a special footwear for bandages from the moment of the intervention. The modifications, after the consolidation of the changed structures, go from having in the first axis inclinations to having a rectilinear form as nature itself wants. It happens to have an altered movement that pushes the other fingers when it lowers or raises the fingers, to a coordinated movement that does not push any finger and has a rectilinear shape.
