Bunionectomy

Bunionectomy Overview

A bunion is a painful lump on the side of the big toe. A small percentage of bunions do not respond to nonsurgical treatment options and surgery is recommended. A Carolina Orthopaedics and Neurosurgical Associates’ (CONA) foot and ankle specialist performs a bunionectomy to remove the bunion and reduce symptoms.

How is a bunionectomy performed?

An outpatient bunionectomy is performed under regional or general anesthesia. A CONA specialist:

• Gently retracts soft tissues
• Removes the bunion
• Carefully closes tissue layers and skin

A sterile dressing is placed over the surgical site. A soft dressing is wrapped around the foot for comfort. A postoperative hard sole shoe is placed on the foot for protection. Total procedure time is 30-60 minutes.

What conditions can bunionectomy treat?

A bunionectomy treats a symptomatic bunion that does not improve after nonsurgical treatment options. Symptoms that improve after surgery include:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Tenderness

What are bunionectomy advantages?

After recovery, bunionectomy patients are able to:

• Exercise
• Run/walk for prolonged periods
• Wear different shoe types
• Wear sandals and open shoes without having to worry about their bunion showing

What is bunionectomy recovery like?

Patients return home shortly after their procedure. CONA specialists give patients detailed instructions regarding:

• Bearing weight
• Dressing care
• Elevating and icing the foot
• Managing pain and swelling

Patients who adhere to their CONA specialist’s instructions recover quickly and benefit from their procedure.