bunion operation

lay bee went for a bunion removal operation on the day that ivy was returning to melbourne. her operation was originally scheduled at 11.00 a.m. but was postponed to 3.00 p.m. as her orthopedic surgeon had to attend to an emergency.

when the joint between the big toe and the foot sticks out abnormally, it is often described as a bunion. the soft tissues around this affected joint can become inflamed, leading to 'bursitis'.

bunions are generally preventable and treated by wearing more appropriate footwear, and rarely require surgery.

a bunion occurs as a result of a deformity in the big toe known as hallux valgus, where hallux means the big toe and valgus means abnormal bending towards the other toes.

hallux valgus occurs when the foot bone that joins with the big toe (the metatarsal) becomes displaced inwards (towards the centre of the body). this tends to force the joint out against the inside of footwear. the sac, or bursa, that lies over the joint is irritated as a result. inflammation of the bursa (bursititis) contributes to the swelling of a bunion.

hallux valgus, resulting in bunions, affects 10 women to every one man. this may be because genetic and anatomical factors predispose women to developing the condition. but the main reason appears to be that women are more likely than men to wear ill-fitting shoes. the chance of having bunions is greater if one or more parents had them too.

high-heeled shoes, in particular, put abnormal strains on the bones and muscles of the foot. and shoes that push the toes together, force the big toe into a hallux valgus position.

hallux valgus and bunions are much more common with increasing age.

an operation on the toes can be uncomfortable for a time, and there is a risk of experiencing pain in the long term. but recovery from the operation is generally rapid and there is a very good chance that the symptoms of the bunion will be completely relieved.