Can i have bunion surgery on the nhs

It's not clear if you can do anything to prevent them. Page last reviewed: 24 August Next review due: 24 August Check if you have bunions Symptoms of bunions include: Hard lumps on the sides of your feet, by your big toes. Foot symptoms and possible causes Foot symptoms Possible cause Red, hot, swollen skin over the affected joint that comes and goes Gout Aching, swollen and stiff joints; usually worse in the morning Arthritis Pain, bruising and swelling after hurting your toe Broken toe.

Do wear wide shoes with a low heel and soft sole hold an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel to the bunion for up to 5 minutes at a time try bunion pads soft pads you put in shoes to stop them rubbing on a bunion — you can buy these from pharmacies take paracetamol or ibuprofen try to lose weight if you're overweight.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:. Find a podiatrist. Medically known as hallux valgus, bunions are the most common deformity of the foot and can cause a variety of symptoms including pain, discomfort when exercising and difficulty wearing shoes. In many cases, bunions are actually caused by genetics which make certain people more prone to developing bunions.

Environmental factors such as wearing tight fitting shoes or high heels will then allow the bunion to develop over time. When it comes to treating bunions, there are so many different over-the-counter options and devices that can be purchased online. For some they may help but overall, these are designed to reduce any pain or discomfort and are unlikely to cure your bunion. You first step to getting bunion treatment is likely to be a visit to your GP to confirm your diagnosis. They are likely to offer advice on how to ease any symptoms and suggest the use of orthotics, spacers and supports.

If you make your GP aware of the pain that you are feeling and the impact that bunions are having on your everyday life, then they may refer you to a surgeon to discuss if surgical removal or repair is a good option. The NHS criteria for bunion surgery is often very strict and you usually have to meet one or multiple of the following points. Bunion surgery on the NHS is usually an osteotomy procedure which you can find out more about here. Performed under general anaesthetic, it involves cutting away the bunion, straightening the toe and then securing the toe in place with screws or other fixative devices which are then left in the foot permanently.

The downtime can be extensive with the foot needing to be rested at all times for 2 weeks, you may need to stay off work for weeks, unable to drive for weeks and all sports and exercise should be avoided for at least 6 months.

For the majority of bunion patients, a lengthy recovery time is not an option, and many will continue to use preventative devices to help try and ease the discomfort. Our Orthopaedic Consultant Surgeon, Dr Bianchi, pioneered this revolutionary procedure which is exclusive to our London and Manchester clinics. The surgeon will use surgical dental burrs to correct the deformity and modify the bones of the foot. Find out more about this technique here.

After decades of pain and being embarrassed by the shape of my feet, I now have beautiful, straight, pain free feet. The Procedure is exactly as described, had my operation and was walking out of the hospital an hour and half later. On the day of your surgery, prior to having a general anaesthetic, you would be reviewed by the anaesthetic team to ensure that you are fit and well. You will be given all the relevant information on general anaesthesia and the opportunity to ask questions.

Whilst you are asleep we will administer local anaesthetic around your ankle to help reduce post-operative pain. When you wake up in the recovery ward, you will find your foot is numb and this may last between 12 and 36 hours. A member of the team will anaesthetise your leg via an injection in the back of your knee Popliteal block.

This will be carried out with adequate time given to allow the local anaesthetic to take effect. As the anatomy behind the knee varies a little from person to person we use a nerve stimulator to locate the nerves. This sends a small electric current down the needle which stimulates the nerve.

This helps us deliver the anaesthetic with precision. Local anaesthetic at the level of the knee not only blocks sensation but also movement of your foot. This can last between 12 and 36 hrs. The standard incision is on the inside of the foot over the bunion deformity. The incision is normally between 4 and 10 cm in length, depending on the type of procedure you are having. Dissolving sutures are used to close the skin.

The operation normally takes about 40 minutes. This is an osteotomy in the metatarsal head transposition , the metatarsal head is moved to correct the deformity and fixated with a single screw.

It is indicated for mild to moderate deformities. The choice to carry out a Scarf or a capital osteotomy will be made by your consultant. This is a transposition osteotomy.

It is normally indicated for mild to moderate deformities. The new position of the first metatarsal is maintained with two screws which enables stability. Although these are stable osteotomies, however, a fracture is a possibility particularly in patients who are very active in the initial stages of the recovery or with weaker bone.

In some the alignment is lost and requires another surgery to fix. Joint stiffness and pain in cases where there is arthritis present prior to surgery. Once the bone has fully healed, the screw s are no longer required. However, we only remove fixation if it causes irritation.

This involves a fusion of the first metatarsal cuneiform joint, allowing the first metatarsal to be rotated back into a straight position. It is normally reserved for severe deformities. Once the corrected position has been obtained it is usually maintained with a plate and screws. Due to the corrective power of this procedure, there is a risk of overcorrection of the bunion, which may result in poor alignment with associated pain and arthritis in the big toe joint.

A failure of the two bones to unite non-union can result in poor alignment and pain. A non-union may require revision surgery.

An audit using a point clinical rating system was used to assess pain, function and alignment, a score of being perfect. The average score before surgery was A small wedge of bone is removed and fixed with a wire. This does not change the post-operative regime. Before you leave the hospital, you will be given an Aircast Walker following the Scarf and Lapidus procedures or a post-operative sandal in the case of a capital osteotomy.

You will be shown how to partially weight bear on the foot using crutches. Post-operative painkillers will be dispensed by the nurses along with your next appointment. You should arrange to go home by car or taxi with an escort.

You should have someone with you for the first 24 hours in case you feel unwell. You must rest with the leg elevated for the first 48 hours essential walking only. It is important that you do not interfere with the dressings and keep them dry.