Do You Have a Bunionette? How to Tell and How to Treat

If you’re wondering what a bunionette is, it’s a protrusion that forms on the outside of the fifth toe. Just like a bunion that appears along the big toe, a bunionette occurs when the metatarsophalangeal joint of the pinky toe is oddly positioned for an extended period of time. It can also be referred to as a “tailor’s bunion,” as early doctors often found the condition in tailors. Since they sat cross-legged for several hours, this position left them with painful lesions on the lateral side of the foot.

What Causes a Bunionette?

Before we delve into the answer of when a bunionette needs surgery, let’s take a look at what causes it.

Genes

 
If your parents or grandparents suffer from bunions, you and your siblings can also develop them.

Ill-fitting shoes

 
Constant friction against the last toe or wearing shoes that are too tight can cause the toes to bend awkwardly, leading to deformities like bunionettes.

Misalignment of the foot

 
Misalignment can be hereditary or caused by an underlying issue like a sprain, a new or an old fracture that didn’t heal properly, or arthritis.

Overpronation

 
This is the term used to describe one way of how your foot hits the ground while you walk. In this manner of walking, the edge of the heel meets the ground sideways at first. The foot then rolls inward to complete the motion. Doing this repeatedly can cause painful lesions such as bunionettes to develop.


What Does Bunionette Surgery Involve?

If you’ve tried and made no progress with non-surgical remedies such as using a bunionette corrector to relieve the deformity’s effects, you know that surgery will be your only option. Is the pain unbearable and hampering how you walk or stand? Specialized treatment centers such as Northwest Surgery Center can help you resolve bunionettes through a simple surgical procedure that corrects the deformity between the bone and joint.

Before surgical intervention is advised, a doctor will first take an X-ray to determine the severity of the bunionette. For some patients, physiotherapy may be advised before surgical intervention. The bunionette will be closely monitored for signs of improvement before a consulting doctor takes a call for surgery.

How Painful is Bunionette Surgery?

The intensity of post-surgery pain differs from one person to the next. That said, the discomfort usually only lasts for 3 to 5 days.

The best way to heal and minimize pain after surgery is to get plenty of rest, avoid placing pressure on the foot, and follow post-surgery advice from your doctor on reducing inflammation.

What is the Bunionette Surgery Recovery Time?

Recovery from a bunionette operation will take anywhere between 6 and 12 weeks. How soon you recover will depend on how vigilant you are with following the advice of your surgeon. Healing should be your main goal and not straining your feet. Recovery is usually less taxing than traditional bunions since the pinky toe doesn’t take as much strain as the big toe.

Bunionettes, if treated sooner, can save you a world of pain and discomfort. See what your doctor has to say about your bunionette and be sure to get the help you need from a reputed team of doctors.

This is a guest blog entry.