A painful, inflamed hardening and thickening of the skin of the sole of the foot at the base of the great toe. It is often induced by ill-fitting footwear.
BunionClassifications and external resources
| ICD-10 | M20.1 |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 727.1 |
| DiseasesDB | 5604 |
| eMedicine |
orthoped/467 The term "bunion" originally referred to an inflamed and painful bursal sac on the side of the great toe joint. A bunion is an enlargement of bone or tissue around the joint at the base of the big toe (metatarsophalangeal joint). If you have a bunion, you will notice a bump on your big toe joint. The big toe may turn in toward the second toe (displacement), and the tissues surrounding the joint may be swollen and tender. Medical termsThe term "hallux valgus" or "hallux abducto valgus" are the most commonly-used medical terms associated with a bunion deformity, where "hallux" refers to the great toe, "valgus" refers to the abnormal rotation of the great toe commonly associated with bunion deformities, and "abducto" refers to the abnormal drifting or inward leaning of the great toe towards the second toe, which is also commonly associated with bunion disorders. Bunion formation/developmentBunions develop via long-term warping caused by pointed shoes during the growth phase of the foot causing this joint at the base of the big toe to thicken and enlarge. This causes the bones of the big toe to angle in toward the second toe, and leads to an often painful lump of bone which forms at the outside-edge base of the big toe. Bunions are not only associated with an enlarged bony bump at the big toe joint. Bunions are commonly associated with a deviated position of the big toe where it leans in towards the second toe; Arthritis of the great toe joint, diminished and/or altered range of motion, and discomfort with pressure applied to the bump or with motion of the joint, may all accompany bunion development. SymptomsThe symptoms of bunions include: Swelling or enlargement of the metatarsophalangeal joint at the base of the big toe.CausesThe abnormalities associated with bunion development are caused by a biomechanical abnormality, where certain tendons, ligaments, and supportive structures of the first metatarsal are no longer functioning correctly. Bunions can also be induced by an extrinsic cause, such as inappropriate shoe gear. TreatmentBunions may be treated conservatively with changes in shoe gear, different orthotics (accommodative padding and shielding), rest, ice, and medications. SurgeryProcedures are designed and chosen to correct a variety of pathologies that may be associated with the bunion deformity. For instance, procedures may address some combination of: removing the abnormal bony enlargement of the first metatarsal, realigning the first metatarsal bone relative to the adjacent metatarsal bone, straightening the great toe relative to the first metatarsal and adjacent toes, realigning the cartilagenous surfaces of the great toe joint, addressing arthritic changes associated with the great toe joint, repositioning the sesamoid bones beneath the first metatarsal bone, shortening, lengthening, raising, or lowering the first metatarsal bone, and correcting any abnormal bowing or misalignment within the great toe. To minimize the chance of developing a bunion, choose shoes that have square/wide toe areas. If you are developing a bunion, wear shoes that are roomy enough not to put pressure on it, which should help with a large amount of the pain associated with a bunion. Protective padding to cushion the bunion area (such as a non-medicated bunion pad which fits around the bony lump) should be worn with shoes.Orthotics: bunion cushions, splints, regulatorsOther measures include various footwear like gelled toe spacers, bunion / toes separators, bunion regulators, bunion splints, and bunion cushions External LinksJonathan Cluett (March 2, 2006). |
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