|
Bunion Surgery - Shaft Procedures
Hallux valgus or bunion deformities have may
different surgical techniques for their correction. One group of
procedures that your surgeon may use is the shaft osteotomies. These
osteotomies are different from the head osteotomies and also the
procedures performed at the base of the metatarsal or at the
metatarsocuneiform joint, because they are performed in the middle of
the first metatarsal. The shaft osteotomies were
designed to use internal fixation (screws) and to correct larger
deformities. In most of these cases, your surgeon will use 2 screws to
fixate the osteotomy. The osteotomy is longer than the head procedures
and has more inherent stability because of more bone contact. Also
these procedures can correct larger deformities then the head
procedures and about the same deformities as the base procedures. There
are two basic shaft osteotomy procedures that your doctor may talk to
about: The Z bunionectomy or the offset V bunionectomy. These
osteotomies are very similar and are used interchangeably, based on
different patient characteristics, by most surgeons that perform these
procedures. The decision to use these procedures over other procedures
is typically surgeon preference. In most cases, these procedures are
used for patient with mild to severe structural bunions without
hypermobility. In old patients with poor bone stock, the surgeon may
opt for other procedures. What is the post-operative course? Typically,
the patient is allowed to bear weight immediately after surgery in the
a surgical shoe. Some doctors may have you use crutches for one to two
weeks or use a slipper cast. This is surgeon's preference. It is not
unusual for the front part of your foot to look bruised after the
surgery. So at the first dressing change, do not be surprised if your
toes and the top of your foot are bruised. This will dissipate in 3-6
weeks. At two weeks after surgery, the sutures are typically removed
and at three weeks most patients are advanced into a surgical shoe.
After the first or second week, your surgeon may have you start range
of motion of your big toe joint. It is important that you follow your
doctor's instructions on all range of motion exercises to help return
motion to the operative foot. As with all surgery on the foot and
ankle, the limiting factor to advance into different shoe gear is
swelling. This swelling can last up from 6 months to one year after
surgery. Typically most patients returned to pre-operative dress shoes
in 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. With any
surgery, complications are possible. Every procedure has unique
complications and your surgeon will discuss these with you before
surgery. Make sure that you ask any questions that you have about the
surgery with your surgeon.
Back to Top
|
