What are Bunions?
A bunion (also known as HAV deformity) is the lateral deviation of the big toe towards the other toes, often causing a painful bump to develop. It can occur for a number of reasons including genetics, tight fitting footwear and poor foot biomechanics. It’s vital to treat a bunion, because if it is exposed to too much pressure, an ulcer or bursa can develop and result in infection and pain. A bursa is a fluid filled sac that develops in response to excess friction, while an ulcer is erosion of the epidermis and possibly the dermis. Conservative treatment includes wearing appropriate footwear, padding, mobilisation and debridement of callus. If conservative treatment isn’t enough, surgical intervention is sometimes required to treat the bunion.