What is a bunion?

A bunion is a bone deformity that appears as a bony prominence on the inside of the big-toe joint. It results as the first metatarsal deviates away from the second metatarsal and the big toe moves toward the second toe.

Bunions are progressive, but there is no single rate at which they worsen. Some seem to change quickly, while others progress over a much longer period.

Is the bunion symptomatic?

Symptoms are an important part of deciding whether to discuss surgical correction.

  • Pain or redness over the bony prominence
  • Pain at the big-toe joint or under the front of the foot
  • Rubbing between the big toe and second toe
  • Worsening arthritis in the big-toe joint

Are you a surgical candidate?

Health for anesthesia, time for recovery, tolerance for a surgical boot, and factors that may affect bone healing all matter. Surgical candidacy should be discussed directly with the surgeon.

If a bunion is not causing symptoms, Dr. Ivey’s guidance is not to operate. If pain is limiting shoes or activities, consider scheduling a consultation to review treatment options before the deformity progresses further.

A note about this article

This educational content comes from Lone Star FAS’s existing resource library. It does not replace an evaluation or individualized medical advice.