Hallux Valgus, also known as Big-toe joint deformation is found to be more common among women. The condition characterizes itself with pain especially with contingent lesion. Initial changes can be corrected by using a nightwear bandage which can be an effective form of repair.
Earlier,the prevalent understanding of the bunion or hallux valgus, was that it was purely an enlargement of the soft tissue, first metatarsal head or both. This is most commonly caused by ill-fitting footwear. Thus, treatment had varying results, with controversy over whether to remove the overlying bursa alone or in combination with an exostectomy of the medial head.
Symptoms
Hallux Valgus starts as the big toe begins to deviate, developing a firm bump on the inside edge of the foot, at the base of the big toe. At this stage the bunion may not be painful, but as the toes deviate, the bunion can be very painful accompanied by redness, some swelling, or pain at or near the joint. The pain can be caused due to two conditions. One could be due to the pressure of the footwear on the bunion or it could be due to an arthritis like pain from pressure inside the joint.
This can cause the motion of the joint to be restricted or painful. A condition called�hammer toe�of the second toe is common with bunions. Corns and calluses can develop on the bunion, the big toe and the second toe due to the alterations in pressure from the footwear. The pressure from the great toe on the other toes can also cause corns to develop on the outside of the little toe or between the toes. The change in pressure on the toe may predispose to an�ingrown nail.
Causes
The main reasons that causes Hallux Valgus include
Wearing footwear that is too tight
Wearing footwear that causes the toes to be squeezed
Imbalance in the forces that is exerted across the joint during walking
Bunions can follow foot injuries and develop in those with neuromuscular problems
Bunions are not inherited, but do tend to run in families. People with Flat or Pronated Feet will be more prone to developing bunions.
Procedure
There are many treatment options for Bunion and will depend on the type and severity of the bunion. Another deciding factor would be the cause of the symptoms. Bunions are usually progressive and get to become larger and painful with time.
The main aim of the treatment given would be to relieve the pressure on the bunion and to stop or slow down the progression of the joint deformity.
If the bunion symptoms do not respond to the conservative measures or if the bunion has progressed beyond a threshold when these measures are not effective, surgery may be required to correct the alignment and remove the bunion. The type of surgery
If the bunion symptoms does not respond to the conservative measures or if the bunion has progressed past a threshold where these measures are not effective,�bunion surgery�may be necessary to correct alignment and remove the bunion. A large range of types of surgical procedures for bunions are available and the choice will depend on things like what bone or bones are involved, the angular relationship between the different bones, the amount of damage to the joint and the presence of deformities other than the bunion.
