A Member of the University of Maryland Medical System | In Partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine

Get answers to your Foot and Ankle questions.
Dr. Farber’s Bio | Q&A Archive
Bunionectomy; Hallux valgus correction
Bunion removal is surgery to treat deformed bones of the big toe and foot. For more information on this type of deformity, see: Bunion
You will be awake during the procedure. You willl be given anesthesia (numbing medicine) so that you will not feel pain and medicines to help you relax.
The surgeon makes a cut to around the toe joint and bones. The surgeon repairs the deformed joint and bones using pins, screws, plates, or a cast to keep the bones in place.
The surgeon may repair the bunion by:
Your doctor may recommend this surgery if you have bunion that hasn't gotten better with other treatments, such as shoes with a wider toe box. A bunion is when your big toe points toward your second toe, forming a bump.
Bunion surgery corrects the deformity and relieves pain caused by the bump.
Risks for any anesthesia include:
Risks for any type of surgery include:
Risks for bunion surgery include:
Always tell your doctor or nurse what drugs you are taking, including medicines, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription.
During the 2 weeks before your surgery:
On the day of your surgery:
Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.
Most people go home the same day they have bunion removal surgery.
You should keep your foot propped up and protected from injury while it heals.
Your doctor will tell you how much weight you can put on your foot.
Full recovery may take 3 to 5 months.
You should have less pain after your bunion is removed. You should also be able to walk more easily. This surgery does repair some of the deformity of your foot. But it will not give you a perfect-looking foot.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).
© 2011 University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). All rights reserved.
UMMC is a member of the University of Maryland Medical System,
22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. TDD: 1-800-735-2258 or 1.866.408.6885