Bunions
OVERVIEW
Bunions are painful bony bumps that develop over time on the inside of the foot at the base of the big toe. Unfortunately, they will not go away without surgery. Non-surgical treatments can sometimes help eliminate symptoms.
ANATOMY
The big toe consists of two joints: the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint and the interphalangeal joint. The interphalangeal joint is located in the middle of the toe. The MTP joint is the largest of the two and is found where the first long bone of the foot (metatarsal) meets the first bone of the toe (phalanx).

DESCRIPTION
When the bones that make up the MTP joint fall out of alignment, the MTP joint gets larger, resulting in inflammation. Specifically, this occurs when the metatarsal bone shifts toward the outside of the foot while the phalanx angles toward the second toe. This inflammation is known as a bunion (hallux valgus). Several factors can increase the risk of getting a one. These factors include:
- Footwear. Wearing shoes that force the toes into an unnatural position.
- Health Condition. Having either an inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid arthritis, or a neuromuscular condition, such as polio.
- Hereditary. Can be developed hereditarily due to both foot shape and structure.

Bunions occur over time and are not an impact injury. Children are also at risk of developing them, but adults are most commonly affected. Ones that occurs in young people are called adolescent bunions.

SYMPTOMS
The symptoms may include:
- Visible bump on the inside of the foot with a callus or corn
- Pain and tenderness
- Redness
- Inflammation
- Hardened skin on bottom of foot
- Stiffness and restricted motion in the big toe
- Difficulty walking

DIAGNOSIS
Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician will ask about your symptoms, general health, and medical history and examine your foot. An x-ray will also be ordered to check the alignment of your toes and check for damage to the MTP joint. Since the alignment of the foot changes when you stand or sit, the x-rays will be taken both while sitting and standing. These x-rays will help show your physician how severe your bunion is, and how best to correct it.
TREATMENT (OVERVIEW)
Unfortunately, they can only be removed surgically. But nonsurgical treatments can be used to help reduce symptoms. Surgery is only recommended if nonsurgical treatments are unsuccessful or if it is severe.
NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS
Bunions are typically treated non-surgically. While it itself cannot go away without surgery, non-surgical treatments can help reduce pain while preventing it from getting worse. These treatments include:
- Ice applied several times a day for 20 minutes at a time can significantly reduce swelling.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as Advil and Motrin (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) can help reduce pain and swelling.
- Changing footwear is highly recommended because shoes that do not fit correctly will squeeze your toes and cause pain. Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician will give you information on the proper footwear fit for you.
- Padding can help cushion the painful area of it, decreasing pain.
- Depending on the severity, over-the-counter or custom-made shoe inserts (orthotics), splints, or toe spacers may all be used to help ease pressure and reduce pain.
SURGICAL PROCEDURES/TREATMENTS
Surgery is only necessary if non-surgical treatments were unsuccessful or if the bunion is severe. There are several different surgical procedures used to correct them including bunionectomy. All procedures focus on realigning bone, ligaments, tendons, and nerves which will allow for the big toe to be brought back to its correct position.
In the cases of an adolescent bunion, surgery is not recommended because there is a strong chance it will return. Surgery may be recommended if it causes extreme pain that does not go away after nonsurgical treatments.
NEXT STEPS
After surgery, a surgical boot or cast will need to be worn to protect your foot. A brace will then need to be worn to support the foot during the healing processes. Surgery recovery takes approximately six to eight weeks, but a full recovery can take an average of four to six months.
If you are having foot problems and suspect that you have a bunion, schedule an appointment with a Florida Orthopaedic Institute fellowship-trained physician.
Areas of Focus
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion
- Bunions
- CARTIVA® Implant For Big Toe Joint Arthritis
- Charcot Joint
- Hallux Rigidus - Cheilectomy
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Lisfranc Injuries
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Metatarsalgia
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatrist or Orthopaedic Physician?
- PROstep™ Minimally Invasive Surgery for Bunions
- Sprained Ankle
- Total Ankle Replacement
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in Bunions:
Specialties
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- ALIF: Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion
- Arthritis & Adult Reconstruction Surgery
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Back Surgery Types
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- CARTIVA® Implant For Big Toe Joint Arthritis
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Community Outreach
- ConforMIS Knee Replacement
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discitis
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries in Throwing Athletes
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Golfer's Elbow
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hallux Rigidus - Cheilectomy
- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand & Upper Extremity
- Hand & Wrist
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Hip & Thigh
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Interventional Pain Management
- Interventional Spine
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Knee & Leg
- Kyphosis
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- Lisfranc Injuries
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- MACI
- MAKO Knee Replacement Surgery
- MAKO Total Hip Replacement
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- NAVIO Surgical System
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Patellar Fracture
- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatrist or Orthopaedic Physician?
- Primary Care Orthopedics Sports Medicine
- PROstep™ Minimally Invasive Surgery for Bunions
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Revision Knee Surgery
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- ROSA® Knee Robotic Surgical Assistant
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Senior Strong
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sprained Ankle
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement
- Triceps Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Verilast
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Sprains
- Wrist Tendonitis