Effective relief from the pain of bunions

Faster recovery times and lower risk with our innovative keyhole procedure.

Introducing a new, low risk, minimally invasive surgical approach for the treatment of painful bunions at The Lister Hospital, rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC. 

Keyhole surgery delivers smaller incisions, with less risk of nerve and soft tissue damage, quicker procedures, and greatly reduced recovery times. Now we can offer the advantages of minimally invasive surgery to patients with bunions, for a faster, lower risk return to full mobility.

A bunion, also known as ‘hallus valgus’, is a painful swelling of the big toe joint. Affecting up to one third of all UK adults, bunions are quite commonplace. Pain and discomfort will vary, depending on the severity of the bunion, but they can often be quite debilitating and, for some patients, will significantly restrict their mobility. The good news though, is they are now easier to treat with minimally invasive keyhole surgery.

What’s the cause?

Bunions form when two main bones in the big toe – the first metatarsal, and the proximal phalanx – bend together, forming a bump on the side of the big toe joint, and causing the big toe to drift across and push on the second toe. Although most bunions are caused by pressure from tight shoes on the base of the big toe, they’re primarily hereditary. So you’re more likely to develop bunions if your parents or grandparents had them. 

Although most bunions are caused by pressure from tight shoes on the base of the big toe, they’re primarily hereditary. So you’re more likely to develop bunions if your parents or grandparents had them. 

Do all bunions need treatment?

While some patients with mild conditions will benefit from conservative management, many bunions do need surgery to prevent increased pain and complications over time. 

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Mr Kumar Kunasingam explains: “The longer bunions are left, the harder they are to treat because pain can arise in other parts of the foot. As the width of the foot increases and the toes are increasingly pushed together, the nerves between the metatarsal heads can get pinched, causing more pain.”

Bunions can also cause further complications when the first metatarsal (in the big toe) starts to lean over onto the middle toes, putting pressure onto the second and third metatarsals, and causing a condition known as ‘transfer metatarsalgia’. “This can lead to the second toe lifting up in the air,” says Mr Kunasingam, “which is incredibly uncomfortable. In some cases, it can even cause the second toe to dislocate.” 

Traditionally, the only way to treat bunions was with open surgery. Patients often reported significant pain and discomfort during the long recovery process, and the bone would usually be held in place with clips and screws, resulting in limited weightbearing for some time after the surgery. 

Although open surgery techniques have significantly improved in recent years, with smaller and more precise incision sizes, patients still need plenty of time for recovery. 

A new approach – keyhole surgery

Keyhole surgery has completely changed the way bunions can be treated. Rather than the traditional long incision along the outside of the foot, a series of small, circular 3mm incisions are made to straighten the bones on either side of the big toe joint, holding them in place with three screws. 

The smaller instruments used offer much finer control and more targeted access to the bone. This causes far less damage and disruption to the surrounding soft tissue and means the patient undergoes much shorter surgical procedures. The result is less pain and discomfort, a faster return to mobility and better overall recovery times. 

At The Lister Hospital, all our highly trained nurses, radiologists and physiotherapists, work together within a fully integrated, consultant-led team.

Our holistic, patient-centred approach takes into account each individual’s unique needs and lifestyle factors to offer fully tailored treatment solutions. It means we are able to offer every patient the very highest quality treatment and care, in a welcoming, supportive space, and consistently deliver the very best recovery outcomes.