“In order to correct a bunion, surgically, the bones in the fore foot have to be realigned. Because of the bunion, there’s an increase in the separation of the metatarsals, so in order to correct the bunion, the metatarsal has to be moved back inward. This can be done through a small incision made on the inner side of the foot. We do have the technology now to actually make the incisions sometimes even three or four millimeters wide, where we then drill through the bone from the inside out, making cuts in the bone – both dorsally and plantarly. This allows the capital fragment, which is the head of the bone, to then be shifted over to realign the joint in a more proper alignment. This then allows the joint and the cartilage to function more efficiently with keeping the toe in a more favorable alignment. Bunions typically do not return after surgery if the bunion is corrected properly. Keeping in mind that a bunion is an angulation between the first and second metatarsals, if there is just a bump that is shaved off the inner side of the metatarsal, then the bunion can reoccur because of the angle of the metatarsal was not addressed and that angle can increase over time. So, by correcting the angle, making the bone aligned properly by cutting through either the head of the metatarsal or the base of the metatarsal, and bringing the base into alignment, this ensures that a bunion does not reoccur.”
Make an appointment with Thomas Goldman, DPM
Thomas Goldman, DPM, is a board-certified podiatrist at Mount Sinai Doctors, seeing patients Monday-Friday Trained in New York, he is certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine. He was awarded his medical degree from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine and completed his residency in Podiatry at Coney Island Hospital. He has a particular interest in podiatric minimally invasive foot surgery and sports medicine.