The fashion whirlwind of “pointy-toe shoes” has led to an increase in female foot problems. Many women have grown “big toes” as a result of chasing fashion. And often do not realize that this is a “persistent disease”, until the pain is unbearable, often already need to “hurt the bones”. The experts reminded: “love of beauty should also take it easy”. The medical term for this condition is bunion, and female patients account for more than 80%.
So, how do you treat bunions?
Bunions, commonly known as big feet, are mostly related to genetics (about 80% or more) and discomfort in shoes. The foot shape is unsightly, shoe deformation, bunions, and pain. It is often complicated by pads, corns, claw toes, other toe deformities, etc. M. ectropion is a common foot deformity that occurs in women (male to female ratio of about 1:30) and is mostly symmetrical. The main manifestations of bunion are: the bunions are slanted to the outside, the first metatarsal is turned inward, the angle between the first and second metatarsals is increased, and the metatarsophalangeal joint is mildly subluxated; the head of the first metatarsal forms a bone superfluity on the inside of the foot, and due to the long-term friction of the shoe upper, the local skin is thickened, and in severe cases, it becomes red and inflamed, which is called bunion. If the bunion is severe, the second toe can be squeezed to the dorsal side by the bunion, forming a hammer finger.
What are the factors that cause bunions?
1. Congenital factors.
It is caused by joints, nerves, muscles, etc. For example, flat feet, genetics, and lowered plantar tendon strength and imbalance can reduce the function of the sole of the foot, causing instability and deformation.
2, acquired factors.
Usually caused by wearing shoes that do not fit the foot, usually due to wearing shoes with a heel that is too high, too pointed and too narrow, so that the heel is not easily fixed, causing friction and pressure on the toes, which not only affects the extension and movement of the toes, causing discomfort and pain, but also destroys the function of the original three footholds, and when walking, the weight of the whole body falls on the front of the foot, the toes will be gradually deformed due to the pressure of the body weight, which will cause the phenomenon of bunion. For example, the popular high heels and witch shoes are the biggest culprits in accelerating bunions.
Characteristics and clinical manifestations of middle-aged and elderly bunions.
After bunion, it will lead to inversion of the first metatarsal and widening of the anterior part of the foot. The negative emphasis of the foot changes, and the foot often feels fatigued. Due to the inversion of the first metatarsal bone, the first metatarsal head is often stimulated by friction and extrusion, forming a bony flap and a pseudo-bursa on the surface. The skin is thickened and the corpus callosum is formed. Because it is often subjected to continuous frictional action, bursitis can occur and the skin can become ulcerated and infected. At this point, the pain is more severe and affects walking. The bunion deformity keeps getting worse, and the first metatarsophalangeal joint subluxation and osteoarthritis may appear. At this point, the joint cartilage is destroyed, bone growth occurs, and the joint space becomes narrower, resulting in limited joint function. This is the main characteristic of middle-aged and elderly bunions.
The bunion deviates outward and squeezes the second toe, causing the second toe to elevate above the bunion and form a mallet toe. The skin over the second toe thickens due to friction from shoe wear or forms an ulcer. The root of the bunion protrudes medially with thickened, painful skin pressure. Local swelling, redness, and pressure pain are evident when bursitis is present. Due to the change in the negative focus of the foot, the palm of the foot is compressed and the skin is thickened and painful. In the late stage, osteoarthritis appears in the first metatarsophalangeal joint, with restricted movement, increased pain, and impaired walking.
X-rays show an outward deviation of the bunion and increased spacing between the first and second metatarsals. The first metatarsal head is medially bony. In the late stage, the joint space of the first metatarsal phalanx becomes narrower and there is periarticular bone growth.
Most patients develop them in their youth. In middle-aged and elderly patients, the main prevention is to prevent the deformity from worsening and to delay the onset of osteoarthritis. Patients with bunions should wear shoes that are loose and have thick insoles to reduce friction and irritation of the foot. Regularly soak your feet in warm water and massage your toes to improve blood circulation. Regularly moving the toes to enhance the nutrition of joint cartilage and muscle strength of the inner foot muscles can prevent joint cartilage damage and delay the occurrence of osteoarthritis.
How can bunions be treated?
It is recommended that when bunion deformity is detected, early prevention and treatment can not only delay the deterioration of bunion but also effectively prevent the occurrence of some complications.
In the past, the purpose of treating bunions was mainly to relieve pain, and correction was not advocated for painless or painless deformities. With the improvement of people’s standard of living, some patients, mainly young women, have been treated for bunions. Some patients, mainly young female patients, visit the clinic mainly because of the unattractive appearance, can not wear fashionable shoes; or because of some field stage need to wear high heels, but the pain can not wear, in Europe and the United States due to the high incidence of bunion, this situation is more common, but also promote the research of bunion.
1. Non-surgical treatment.
Patients with mild bunions and mild pain can be treated by massaging the bunions and moving the bunions to the inside of the foot. You can also put a cotton pad between the bunion and the second toe, or tie a straight splint on the inside of the bunion at night to straighten the bunion. In addition, frequent barefoot walking on sandy soil can exercise the muscles of the foot and slow down the progression of the disease. However, studies have failed to prove the efficacy of non-surgical treatments.
2. Surgical treatment.
It is suitable for patients with severe pain and deformity. Surgery is mainly to remove the bursa and the enlarged bone. If the joint capsule of the medial metatarsophalangeal joint is too loose, it can be tightened by overlapping sutures. Bunionotomy and first metatarsal osteotomy are also commonly used.
3.Minimally invasive treatment.
Minimally invasive bunion correction technology only requires a 2CM-sized micro-hole to be gently opened in the affected area, removing the hyperplastic bone in the joint capsule of the first metatarsal joint, and completing the osteotomy and fixation of the metatarsal head in the joint capsule to correct the metatarsal inversion deformity of moderate to severe bunion, completing the bunion correction at one time. After the surgery, the appearance is beautiful and recurrence is fundamentally avoided.
Warm reminder: Avoid wearing high heel shoes with pointed toe for a long time is the main measure to prevent bunion. You should try to wear shoes with a wide front and no high heel, especially when you are playing sports or walking for a long time. If you have to wear high heels for certain jobs or occasions, then you should let your feet relax immediately after you get home. Once you find yourself with a slight big toe, you should correct it and try to give up wearing high heels with pointed toes, and you should always soak your feet in hot water when you get home. In addition, don’t wear high heels if you have flat feet. More serious bigfoot bone, to be thorough, only timely consultation to the regular hospital is the most direct and effective way.