Do you have pain on the inside of your foot at the joint of your big toe, especially when wearing shoes? Is there swelling, warmth, and redness at the joint of your big toe? Does the large toe joint have stiffness or pain with less motion than the second-toe joint? Then you may need to seek out a Siloam Springs foot doctor to treat your bunions. Luckily, at Ozark Foot & Ankle, Dr. Brantley specializes in several kinds of treatments for bunions.
If conservative methods such as wearing different kinds of shoes, medications, or orthotic devices have failed to alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with bunions, you may need surgery to relieve pressure and return the toe joint to its normal position. In order to correct mild, moderate, and arthritic bunion deformities, Dr. Brantley prefers a procedure called the Bunion Slide. Pain associated with bunions stems from misaligned bones and worn cartilage. The bunion slide procedure realigns the bone by pushing the bone out and maneuvering it back into its natural, straight position. During this procedure, your Siloam Springs foot doctor will make a small, cosmetic incision on the side of the foot, out of direct sight. Next, a simple bone incision, or osteotomy, is made near the anatomical neck of the first metatarsal, well behind the first metatarsal- phalangeal joint. Then, the entire joint is slid back into the normal anatomical position and stabilized with standard internal fixation. This treatment attempts to minimize the amount of surgical manipulation to your bones as much as possible. Rest and light medication will allow you to be back on your feet in only a few short days.
If surgery is required, Dr. Brantley will discuss your surgical options as well as what is involved for a successful and comfortable post-operative experience. Almost all foot surgery is performed on an out-patient basis. If you are interested in the bunion slide surgery, or would like to research your options for bunion removal, please contact Ozark Foot & Ankle to make an appointment with your Siloam Springs foot doctor, Dr. Brantley, today.
By Ozark Foot & Ankle PLC
October 20, 2015