What Is a Bunionectomy?

Short answer

A bunionectomy is surgery to correct a bunion: the bony bump at the base of the big toe that forms when that joint is out of line. There is more than one way to do it. At The Bunion Cure, we correct the alignment through a small incision under local anesthetic, hold the bone with a temporary pin, and you walk out the same day in a surgical sandal.

What a bunion is

A bunion is a bony lump at the base of the big toe. It forms when that joint drifts out of line over time. The bump shows on the inside of the foot, and the big toe often angles toward the second toe. Walking, running, or wearing some shoes can hurt, and the joint can feel stiff.

Bunions change the shape of the foot. The pain and the stiffness are the usual reasons people come in.

What causes bunions?

Tight or pointed shoes, the way your foot is built, family history, injury, and arthritis have all been tied to bunions. Shoes can aggravate a foot that is already prone to the problem. They are not the only cause.

Can bunions be treated without surgery?

Wider shoes, padding, and pain relievers can ease symptoms. They do not reverse the alignment. If you want the bump and the joint position corrected, that takes a bunionectomy.

How our bunionectomy works

We do a minimally invasive bunionectomy. The incision is about 1/4 inch. Typical open-incision bunion surgery, which we don’t do here, uses 2-4 inches. You have a local anesthetic in the foot or ankle, like at the dentist. You’re awake, with no breathing tube.

The bone is cut and shifted so the joint sits straighter. A temporary pin holds the bone while it heals and comes out at 4 weeks, so no permanent plates or screws are left in your foot. You walk out the same day in a surgical sandal, usually within the hour. Crutches or a walker are uncommon, and only for balance if you want them.

The operation itself typically takes about 20-30 minutes. Most patients are in the building about 90 minutes.

For a fuller description of the technique, see minimally invasive bunion surgery. Our bunion surgery page is the main hub for options, candidacy and next steps.

Recovery at a glance

• You walk out the same day in a surgical sandal. There is no boot.
• For the first two weeks, plan on about 15 minutes per hour on your feet, including standing and walking, and elevate the rest of the hour.
• The temporary pin comes out at 4 weeks, and almost every patient is back in normal shoes by about then, usually a loose tennis shoe or slip-on.
• Desk work can often resume after a long weekend or about a week, if you can elevate the foot and limit walking. Standing or walking jobs need at least 8 weeks. Modified duty or shorter shifts can change the plan.
• Running, jumping and court sports usually restart around 10 to 12 weeks, once Dr. Sullivan confirms you’ve healed.

The week-by-week detail is on bunion surgery recovery.

Other types of bunionectomy

“Bunionectomy” is a general term, not one single operation. Some procedures shave the bump without moving the bone. If the joint is out of line, the bump often comes back. Some fuse a joint and hold it with plates and screws. We don’t do shaving-only or fusion procedures here.

Our procedure cuts and shifts the bone (an osteotomy). We can walk through whether that approach fits your foot, your X-rays and your goals at the consult.

Cost, insurance and candidacy

We accept Medicare and most major plans. Call the office for more information. We don’t see Medicaid patients, even for consultations.

Cost, insurance and financing are covered on bunion surgery cost, insurance and financing.

Candidacy for a minimally invasive correction can include mild through extremely severe bunions, subject to your exam and X-rays. See am I a candidate.

Schedule a surgical consult

If you are considering a bunionectomy, schedule a surgical consult. The exam and X-rays are free if you are in the market for surgery. We’ll look at your foot and films with you and tell you whether this approach fits. 720-758-6760.