Although it is one of the most common deformities of the foot, it is a painful foot deformity disease that is often neglected and causes deformity of other toes over time.
It manifests itself as a lump-like protrusion on the edge of the big toe. In fact, this is not a newly formed bone, but a protrusion caused by the front part of the first metatarsal bone turning towards the inside of the foot. Over time, this bending affects the alignment of all metatarsal bones and can also push the second toe upward, causing a secondary deformity.
Although this deformity often starts and progresses slowly after adolescence, it is also encountered in deformities that can be seen in childhood. Although this deformity, which begins at an early age, only creates a cosmetic problem in some patients, it also causes some complaints, including pain, in many patients.
Bunion, or hallux valgus disease, most commonly occurs as a result of foot structure shapes that are inherited due to hereditary reasons. However, although it cannot be said for sure that the shape of the shoes worn causes this disease, it will increase the protrusion and the complaints caused by the protrusion. The most common symptoms are
- Pain that starts in the thumb and spreads to the tip of all the comb bones over time,
- Sensitivity or pain in addition to the redness that may occur on the inside of the protrusion,
- In cases where the deformity is very advanced, it is a permanent additional deformity where numbness spreads towards the finger and the second finger lifts up into the air.
The symptoms will become more progressive by wearing narrow-toed and/or high-heeled shoes. The reason for this is that the forefoot, which normally carries 40% of the body load, starts to increase to 70-75% when wearing high-heeled shoes. This increased load-bearing rate increases the deformity in the joint.
Diagnosis begins with clinical evaluation. If the diagnosis of bunion is suspected as a result of the evaluation made by your doctor, foot radiographs are taken to see the degree of deformity. A treatment plan is made by measuring some angles on this radiograph and determining the degree of deformity. Additional pathologies that may accompany the disease can be detected.
Treatment is divided into two as non-surgical and surgical methods. Nonsurgical treatments are often recommended to reduce symptoms and slow the progression of the deformity, although they are not very effective. Among these, the most frequently applied ones are shoe changes (selection of wide-toed shoes), use of metatarsal pads, activity regulations, drug treatment (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), ice treatment in painful and red periods, orthopedic devices (silicone roller between the fingers, hallux valgus). Night splint etc.) and cortisone injection during attacks with pain and redness.
Surgical options come to the fore in patients where non-surgical treatment is inadequate. In this way, the deformity is corrected and both cosmetic, clinical and functional improvement is achieved. Depending on the degree of the disease, many surgical methods have been described and can currently be applied. The surgical method will be decided with the guidance of the angles measured on the radiographs taken. Although there are mild forms in which only soft tissue surgery can be performed, they can be used in advanced surgical methods where combined bone incisions and corrections can be made. After the surgery, patients can walk with special shoes after a short period of walking. Recovery time varies depending on the surgical method applied.
Which complaints are signs of hallux valgus?
- Pain that starts in the thumb and spreads to the tip of all metatarsal bones over time,
- Sensitivity or pain in addition to the redness that may occur on the inside of the protrusion,
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