What is Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery?
Minimally invasive bunion surgery, is a procedure to treat a foot condition called a bunion or hallux valgus. During minimally invasive bunion surgery, a few small incisions are made to access the bone around the bunion, as opposed to a much larger incision made during an open bunion surgery that cuts across layers of tissue around the bone, causing more postoperative pain, a larger scar, and damage to the surrounding soft tissues.
A bunion is an enlargement of the bony prominence or soft tissue around the joint at the inner portion of the the big toe, resulting in the formation of a painful bump. The metatarsal foot bone that joins the big toe begins to drift inwards, in turn causing the base of the big toe to angle outward, resulting in a painful deformity. The main objective of minimally invasive bunion surgery is to realign the joint, correct the deformity, and to relieve pain and discomfort with minimal complications.
Who is a Good Candidate for Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery?
You are a good candidate if you exhibit the following signs and symptoms:
- Significant foot pain that limits your activities of daily living (ADL)
- Deformity of the big toe: a drifting in of the big toe toward the smaller toes
- Failure to obtain pain relief with changes in footwear
- Unsuccessful treatment of pain with NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
Procedure for Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery
Minimally invasive bunion surgery is usually done as a same-day surgery with general anesthesia. The procedure will typically involve the following steps:
- The skin over the bunion is cleaned with an antiseptic solution.
- A few tiny keyhole incisions are made with the aid of specialized instruments to access the bone around the bunion.
- Through the small incisions, specially-designed instruments are inserted to create an osteotomy, or cut in the bone, and release the soft tissue, enabling realignment of the big toe joint.
- Your surgeon may remove portions of bone, ligament, and tendon in the affected foot, based on the severity of the bunion.
- The incisions are closed with stitches and a sterile dressing is applied.
Postoperative Care and Instructions
The general postoperative care and instructions involve:
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery
Some of the benefits of minimally invasive bunion surgery include:
- Minimal post-surgical pain
- Less scarring
- Minimal swelling
- Faster recovery
- Small incisions
- Minimal stiffness in the big toe
Risks and Complications of Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery
Minimally invasive bunion surgery is a relatively safe procedure; however, as with any surgery, there may be some minor risks and complications, such as:
- Recurrence of bunion deformity
- Continued pain
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Damage to nerves