Guide to Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery

Walk out of hospital, on the same day: with keyhole bunion surgery. Hello - I'm Kumar Kunasingam. A foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon, with a special interest in minimally invasive, or keyhole surgeries. Today, I'll guide you through the procedure - your options and what to expect. A bunion is a common deformity, affecting approximately 25% of adults. It's mainly hereditary - and not your fault, when it comes to foot-wear. A bunion occurs where the big toe drifts toward the second toe, creating a noticeable bump. This can lead to pain, especially when wearing shoes. Persistent pain, is the key reason for considering surgery. Traditional surgery uses open techniques, that can be quite expansive, with larger incisions. But the Keyhole Technique offers a quicker recovery, and less soft tissue disruption which can also equate to less pain. Once surgery is agreed, there are a number of anaesthetic options. These include: spinal, regional or anaesthetic blocks. Typically, I'd recommend a short general anaesthetic with a local anaesthetic top-up. But we'll talk through this at your consultation. In terms of the procedure - it is done on a day case basis - allowing you to return home the same day. During the surgery; I make 5 small cuts, around the big toe joint. I reposition the bones to straighten the toe, securing them with screws. The surgery is performed under X-Ray guidance to add to accuracy, and uses small cutting burrs to cut the bone through the small incisions. The surgery takes around 30 minutes, and you can start walking immediately using a special flat soled shoe. Weight-bearing helps in the healing process. If needed, we can provide crutches temporarily to help build confidence. For reference, here is a clip showing the typical results approximately 3 months post surgery. Bones typically heal in six weeks and start solidifying in three months. It's normal to experience niggles, twinges, and occasional swelling as movement increases during this healing period. During recovery the bandage should be kept clean, dry - and away from pets for the first couple of weeks. At this point - we take the bandage down to make sure everything's healed nicely. Then it's time to start stretching exercises combined with deep-tissue massage to regain movement, and improve healing. I recommend using emollient cream to help with the massage, and to hydrate the foot After surgery, once you're feeling better from the anaesthetic, you can go to the gym as early as the next day. But it's important to avoid any impact or heavy lifting exercises. We can discuss if this is appropriate for you personally at our consultation. From weeks two to four, you can switch to a stretchy trainer shoe and take longer walks. By week four, exercise can increase with endurance - such as a stationary bike in the seated position. If you've had surgery on your left foot and have an automatic car - you can drive the next day, if you feel better after the anaesthetic. If it's your right foot, you can use an automatic car after two weeks, when the bandage is off. For those with manual cars - you can also start driving after two weeks. In all cases, you must be able to safely perform an emergency stop before starting driving. Post-surgery care is essential - I recommend using an ice slipper over a sock to reduce swelling as you become more active. I'll also support you throughout your recovery - to ensure the best outcome. Also - it is very important to manage risk factors for a better recovery. For example - smoking significantly affects bone healing - and can lead to complications. I strongly encourage quitting smoking before surgery - for a smoother recovery. In closing - one of the most common questions is whether, a bunion is too severe for keyhole surgery. In my experience the technique suits most cases. Allowing people to return home quickly, and with less chance of recurrence. I can explain more about bunions and the procedure during a consultation. But this guide provides a good understanding of keyhole bunion surgery. Finally - thank you for watching. I hope this video has helped give you a better understanding of the surgery. As a next step, please contact my team. Alternatively - contact any of these hospitals directly for more information - or to book a consultation. I look forward to assisting you on your journey to better foot health!