New Procedure Straightens Bunions Without Cutting Bone

A less invasive treatment for bunions is being used at Rush University Medical Center to correct bunions, or hallux valgus, a common, often painful and debilitating deformity in which the big toe is angled in toward the smaller toes.

Traditionally, people suffering from bunions require a surgical procedure called an osteotomy bunionectomy in the first metatarsal to correct the deformity. This requires a surgeon to break the bone or cut into the bone and reposition the first metatarsal, which can lead to a long recovery period of six to eight weeks, during which patients cannot bear any weight on the foot and must use crutches.

The new procedure, called the Mini TightRope procedure, was developed by orthopedic surgeon George Holmes, MD, head of the foot and ankle program at Rush. It uses a special suture material called fiberwire to bind together the first and second metatarsals, the bones in the foot in the big toe and second toe. This pulls the first metatarsal into proper alignment.

"This new procedure decreases the degree of postoperative pain and greatly reduces the potential of postoperative complications," Holmes said. "It also decreases the recovery time, causes less scarring, and patients are able to go home the same day."

More Information at Your Fingertips:
Read the complete news release.
Learn more about foot and ankle care at Rush.

Learn more about orthopedics at Rush.