Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery: What to Expect

Bunions are painful bumps that form when pressure on the big toe joint pushes it out of alignment. They often take years to form but are very bothersome without treatment.

Padding and shoe changes help reduce discomfort, but the only way to actually “fix” a bunion is to correct it surgically. With new techniques, the procedure is minimally invasive, which has various benefits.

At Phoenix Foot and Ankle Institute, Dr. Jefferey E. McAlister and Dr. Marta Riniker offer minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for bunions at their Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona, locations.

Both doctors are esteemed foot and ankle surgeons who provide cutting-edge treatments for conditions such as bunions, Achilles tendonitis, and arthritis.

What happens during MIS for bunions?

Severe bunions or those that affect daily activities require surgery to correct the deformity. Our team offers minimally invasive options to reduce recovery time and get you back to normal activities as soon as possible.

MIS for bunions still requires anesthesia, although the procedure is much shorter than traditional bunion surgery. The procedure itself usually takes about half an hour, which reduces anesthesia complications.

During the procedure, we make a few tiny incisions around the bunion. Using specialized tools, we cut the bone and realign it using X-ray for guidance. When the bone is properly aligned, we secure it in place with screws.

The incisions are small and don’t take long to close. It’s a same-day procedure, meaning you can go home to rest after surgery. You will have a dressing and a post-operative shoe to help protect the surgical site as it heals.

Understanding the MIS recovery

The recovery for an MIS bunion is much faster and less painful than the traditional procedure. The biggest difference is that you’re able to bear weight almost immediately with the MIS procedure, as long as you’re wearing the surgical shoe.

Recovery from an MIS bunion still takes six to eight weeks, but you’re able to increase weight bearing as tolerated slowly. The incisions heal much faster because they’re smaller, and patients typically have less pain because there’s less tissue disturbance.

Most people can get into a comfortable athletic shoe within six weeks of surgery. However, residual swelling and discomfort are normal for up to a year. Although the recovery is fast, the bones may take six months to a year to fully heal.

It’s essential during the healing process to do exercises to strengthen the foot muscles to regain full use after recovery. Towel scrunches and ankle rolls help you regain strength after surgery.

Major benefits of MIS for bunions

The benefits of MIS procedures are numerous, but the most substantial are less recovery time and pain. Because the incisions are smaller, there’s less tissue damage, which allows you to heal faster with much less discomfort.

Recovery from an MIS bunion is also faster because of the technique and small incisions. The bones still have to heal, which takes time, but you can walk on the surgical foot as soon as you feel comfortable.

There’s also less risk of infection due to smaller incisions and reduced stiffness because of minimal tissue damage and scarring.

To learn more about our minimally invasive bunion procedure, call our team in Phoenix or Scottsdale at 602-761-7819, or schedule your appointment online now to take the first step toward treatment.