Types of Bunion Surgery

Hallux valgus is the medical term for a bunion. The first tarsal-metatarsal (TMT) joint is an important joint at the inner part of the Top and side views of the first metatarsal and medial cuneiform bones (circled in red) that make up the first TMT joint.

Some bunions may need surgery, but only if the symptoms are severe. You shouldn’t get surgery just because you don’t like the way the bunion makes your foot look, because the risks can outweigh the benefits. You’ll want to talk with your doctor about what you can expect, and what the recovery will be like. The surgery is called bunionectomy.

Some of the most common types of bunion removal procedures are osteotomy, exostectomy, and arthrodesis. In an osteotomy, your surgeon will cut your big toe joint and realign it to a normal position. In an exostectomy, your surgeon will remove your bunion from the joint without performing an alignment.

If a person has a bunion deformity that is painful and cosmetically unappealing, then bunion surgery is warranted. All patients who undergo bunion surgery should expect that orthotic usage and proper shoe gear will make their surgery more successful in the long term. There are risks involved with surgery, but thankfully fewer than 10 percent of patients ever experience complications.

Bunion Surgery - Metatarsal Osteotomy. What is a bunion? A bunion is a lump at the base of the big toe, caused by sideways drifting and angulation of the big toe.

Bunion surgery is a medical procedure in which the surgeon cuts into the inner side of the foot, close to the big toe joint and remove any excessive soft tissue or realigns the bone. This surgical intervention is performed when other non-surgical treatments for bunions did not provide the desired results and it is often done for two purposes: one to relieve the excruciating pain and two, to realign the deformed joint.