Help Guide

Information Help Sheets Bunion Surgery Devices Dislocated Toe Exercises Flat Foot Surgery Hallux Limitus Heel Pain Metatarsalgia Neuroma Toe Deformities Pes Cavus

Booking

To book an appointment:

Contact Marina on:

08700 410 448 or 0844 988 9100

Email: marina@thetagoeclinic.co.uk

Complete our Online Enquiry Form

Bunion Management

General

A bunion (hallux valgus) is the movement of the 1st metatarsal away from the 2nd with the big toe drifting towards the second.  Most patients complain of pain, a prominent joint and problems with shoe fitting.  Bunions are considered to be a progressive condition.  The cause of bunions is unknown, but possible factors include a family history, foot function and footwear.

This is a clinical diagnosis made by examining the foot.  The severity of the condition is assessed by an X-ray.  There is no direct correlation between the size of the deformity and the degree of symptoms experienced.

Treatment options
Conservative care

• Wide fitting shoes
• Insoles
• Night splints (children)
• Anti inflammatories and analgesics

Surgical Management
The aim of the surgery is to get the first metatarsal aligned almost parallel to the second metatarsal.  In so doing the big toe will move back into a straight position.  Sometimes it needs to be helped by re-balancing the soft tissue around the joint or taking a small wedge of bone out of the big toe.  Moving the first metatarsal back into its proper position requires cutting the bone (osteotomy).  There are numerous operations to correct bunions but essentially they fall into two categories: transposition and rotational (see diagram).

A transposition osteotomy is where the bone is cut and moved across.  The amount of correction available is restricted to half the width of the bone.  Further than this results in instability.  It is ideally suited to moderate deformities. In severe cases a rotational osteotomy is preferred.  Here a greater degree of correction is available, although this type of procedure is less stable and runs a greater risk of non or delayed bone healing. This operation also takes longer to heal and to settle down.  Professor Tagoe will advise you on the right procedure to correct the deformity but ultimately it is your decision whether to proceed or not.

Day surgery
You are admitted to the hospital on the day of your operation.  Professor Tagoe will mark the surgical site(s) and confirm your consent.  Dr Nathwani (anaesthetist) will discuss your anaesthesia.

Anaesthesia
Most patients elect to have their operation carried out under local anaesthetic with sedation, under the care of Dr Nathwani Consultant Anaesthetist.

Sedation
There are different depths of anaesthesia from sedation through to a general anaesthetic.  Sedation provides reduced consciousness with most of your reflexes left intact and spontaneous breathing. This means that your airway is secure and there is no need to place a tube into your throat. As well as sedation a local anaesthetic block at the level of the ankle is performed to render the surgical area anaesthetised. This allows us to keep the amount of drugs used to a minimum.  The sedation wears off within a few minutes of the end of the operation, without the accompanying drowsiness and nausea, which is sometimes associated with general anaesthesia. The operation is pain free and patients remember nothing of the experience at all.

Local Anaesthesia
Professor Tagoe will anaesthetise your leg via an injection in the back of your knee (Popliteal block). 

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 means that the muscles controlled by the nerve begin to contract and relax causing the foot to ‘flick’. Whilst this is a strange sensation, it is not uncomfortable and helps us to deliver the anaesthetic with precision.

Local anaesthetic at the level of the knee not only blocks sensation but also movement of your foot.  This is temporary lasting for 24 to 36 hours and has the advantage of providing long lasting pain relief and numbness. 

The operation
The standard incision is on the inside of the foot over the bunion deformity. The incision is on average 6-8 cm in length. Dissolving sutures are used to close the skin.  The operation normally takes about 40 minutes.

The Scarf
This is a transposition osteotomy, although in some cases a small amount of rotation can be achieved.  It is normally indicated for mild to moderate deformities. The new position of the first metatarsal is maintained with 2 screws improving its stability. Once the bone has fully healed the screws are no longer required.  However, we only remove them if they cause irritation.

Discharge

Before you leave the hospital you will be given a post operative shoe and shown how to partially weight bear on the foot using crutches.  Post operative painkillers will be dispensed by the nurses. 

You should arrange to go home via car or taxi with an escort.  You are advised to have someone with you for the first twenty four hours in case you feel unwell.

Recovery
You must rest with the leg elevated for the first 48hrs (essential walking only). It is important that you do not interfere with the dressings and keep them dry.  You can buy a purpose made waterproof cover to keep the leg dry from your local pharmacy. Professor Tagoe will see you for a dressing change 3-4 days post surgery, most patients can then return to walking to tolerance around the house.  You will be seen by the nurses 10 days following the surgery when the dressing will be removed and the suture tags cut.  Range of motion exercises for the joint will be started and you can return to a trainer.  From this point on you can wash your foot.  A gradual increase of low impact activities is possible. No hopping, skipping or jumping for the first 8 weeks as it takes this length of time for the 2 bones to heal.

Once out of the post operative shoe you can drive your car as and when you feel safe.

Pre and post correction of a bunion and hammer second toe.  The operation involved a scarf and akin osteotomy with an arthrodesis of the second toe + post op shoe.

It is normally six or seven months before patients have fully recovered.  Swelling and an ache around the surgical site are common during this period.

Physiotherapy
This is instigated 10 days post surgery depending on how well you are progressing. The physiotherapist will demonstrate range of motion exercises and help improve your walking.

Lapidus (metatarsal cuneiform fusion)
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 or for arthritis at the first metatarsal cuneiform joint. Once the corrected position has been obtained it is usually maintained by a plate and four screws. You will be in an Aircast for 6 weeks partial weight bearing.  If the screws and plate cause irritation then they will be removed once the bones have united.

Discharge
Before you leave the hospital you will be shown how to use crutches.  Post operative painkillers will be dispensed by the nurses. 

You should arrange to go home via car or taxi with an escort.  You are advised to have someone with you for the first twenty four hours in case you feel unwell.

 

Pre and post surgery to correct a bunion via a metatarsal cuneiform fusion + Aircast Walker.

Recovery
You must rest with the leg elevated for the first 48hrs (essential weight bearin only). It is important that you keep the foot dry and don’t walk on it without the Aircast on.  Professor Tagoe will see you 3-4 days post surgery when the wound will be checked and the foot X-rayed.  The Aircast can be removed to allow ankle and foot exercises and whilst sleeping. 

Another appointment will be made for you to see the nurse and the Physiotherapists 10 days post surgery.  The nurses will check the wound and cut the suture tags.  From this point on you should be able to wash the foot.  At six weeks Professor Tagoe will review you and the foot X-rayed, if healing is occurring in a satisfactory manner then you will be advised to return to a trainer.   From this point on a gradual increase of low impact activities is possible. No hopping, skipping or jumping for the next 6 weeks as it takes this length of time for the 2 bones to unite (12 weeks in total). Once out of the Aircast and fully weight bearing you can drive your car once you feel safe. It is normally a year before patients have fully recovered. The most common complaints are swelling and an ache around the surgical site.

Physiotherapy This is instigated 10 days post surgery if required.

Outcomes

An audit using a 100 point clinical rating system was used to assess pain, function and alignment, a score of 100 being perfect.  The average score before surgery was 47.33.  Following the surgery the average outcome was 91.08 within our department.  The risk of a non union at the fusion site was 5%. 

Possible complications
Approximately 900 patients undergo foot surgery annually within the Department of Podiatric Surgery at West Middlesex University Hospital.  Most patients have an uneventful recovery.  Outlined below are the common problems or those rare complications with serious outcomes.  In cases where we don’t have accurate audit, we have used published results from the podiatric literature.  These are accompanied by an asterisk *

• Prolonged swelling taking more than 6 months to resolve occurs 1 in every 500 operations*
• Haematoma – a painful accumulation of blood within the operation site.  No audit data is available.
• Thick and or sensitive scar – no audit data is available.
• Screws and plates were removed from 10% of patients.  This is often planned but can occur as a result of irritation.  

• Adverse reaction to the post operative pain killers.  1 in every 50 patients report that the codeine preparations can make them feel sick.*
• Infection of soft tissue.  The incidence is 1 in every 83 operations*
• Infection of bone occurred in 3 out of 916 patients.
• Delayed healing of soft tissue or bone.  No audit data is available.
• Circulatory impairment with tissue loss occurred in 3 out of 9000 patients over a 10 year period.
• Loss of sensation can occur although this is usually transient but can take up to a year to resolve.
• Deep vein thrombosis which can result in a clot in the lung is potentially a life threatening condition.  Deep vein thrombosis incidence is 1 in every 900 cases.
• Chronic pain syndrome: this is where the nervous system dealing with pain overreacts in a prolonged manner often to a minor incident.  This normally requires management by specialists in this condition and doesn’t always resolve.  This is a rare complication with no audit data available.
• Reoccurrence of the deformity or failure of the operation: incidence is 1 in every 500 operations.*
• Development of secondary problems including overloading of joints adjacent to the ones operated on occurs in 1 in every 700 operations.*.

Specific complications following bunion surgery

• Non-union of bone following surgery which is higher for the Lapidus at 5%.
• Delayed union (slow healing)
• Fracture
• Joint stiffness
• Reoccurrence of symptoms or deformity.
• Fixation irritation
• Transfer pain

The risk of having a complication can be minimised when the patient and all those concerned with the operation and aftercare work together. This starts with the pre-operative screening and continues through to the rehabilitation exercises.

Pre operative screening of your health allows us to determine whether you are fit for surgery.  It is important that you disclose your full medical history.  If there is a query regarding your health, then further investigations or the advice of other surgical and medical specialties will be sought. The surgeon and the theatre team will ensure that the operation is performed effectively and with the minimum of trauma.

You can improve the healing process and reduce the risks of complications by:

• Adhering to the post operative instructions which include resting and elevating the operated leg.  Keeping the wound clean and dry until advised otherwise is essential.  Please ask the nurse or Professor Tagoe if you are not sure what to do.
• Having a healthy diet is important; this provides the nutrition required for healing.
• Smoking is associated with a 20% increased risk of delayed or non healing of bones.
• Alcohol can interact with the drugs that we will prescribe and in excess can impair wound healing.
• Post-operative mobilisation will be advised, this helps improve the flexibility, strength and stability of your foot.

Podiatric surgeons evaluate, diagnose, prevent and treat diseases, disorders and conditions affecting the foot and all associated structures.  This is carried out in keeping with the individuals, education, training and experience, in accordance with the ethics of the profession and applicable law.  

Podiatric Surgical Training
3 year:	Degree in Podiatry
2 year:	General Podiatric Practice
2 year:	Diploma in the theory of podiatric surgery
2 Year	Surgical training programme (Podiatric Surgical Trainee)
	Final fellowship examinations
3 year:	Specialist training (Podiatric Registrar)
Accreditation with the Faculty of Podiatric Surgery Consultant Podiatric Surgeon

Consultant:

Professor Mark Tagoe

Secretaries:

Marina Nichols:
08700 410 448
Email: marina@thetagoeclinic.co.uk