This is one of the most frequently asked questions about bunion surgery that I encounter. In my opinion, it is one of the most important questions to ask. Bunion surgery requires some down time to let things heal properly. This bigger the surgery, the more down time involved.
Since most surgery is elective, it’s always a good idea to plan your life in accordance with the recovery. There is no convenient time to recover from something like this in anyone’s life, so plan accordingly.
In general, bunion surgeries are associated with limited weight bearing for about 6 weeks. Most Bunion surgeries do not require strict non-weight bearing as long as the patients bone quality is good. We use a special shoe with a rigid plastic sole. The shoe allows for swelling and protects the foot.
I break the recovery for bunions into 3 phases: 1. Immediate Post-Op. 2. Bone and Joint Healing (structural healing) 3. Soft tissue Recovery
Immediate Post-Op – Immediately following your surgery, it is important that you not put any weight on the surgical foot. Often the foot is completely numb (if a “block” type anesthetic was used). While the block is in place, if you were to walk on the foot, you could slip or trip or in some other way damage the surgery. Usually within the first few days, we will allow some limited weight bearing on the heel, avoiding pressure on the front of the foot. The first week to 10 days, the foot should be kept elevated to diminish swelling, which in turn will cut down on complications, improve comfort and decrease the risk of infection.
Bone and Joint Healing – During the first four to six weeks, the surgery must be allowed to heal. Cuts in the bone and sewn tendons and joints capsules are held together with suture (surgical thread) and bone screws that are strong enough to hold the repair in place, but not strong enough to support your body weight. Healing of the bone and soft tissues must occur to ensure a successful result. In most cases, we ask that the patient walk on their heel only for the first four to six weeks. Some patients will use crutches or a specialized knee cart during this period. During this period, I will typically check the foot every 2 weeks and change the dressings at those visits.
Specialized dressings reinforce the repair and protect the foot. These are changed in the office, not by the patient. Depending on the type of surgery, the second phase can last up to 2 months.
Medical problems such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and other medical problems can delay healing and lengthen this stage significantly. Smoking can cause significant delays in Bone healing.
Below are average recovery times (time to weight bearing) for procedures I commonly perform for bunions:
Since most surgery is elective, it’s always a good idea to plan your life in accordance with the recovery. There is no convenient time to recover from something like this in anyone’s life, so plan accordingly.
In general, bunion surgeries are associated with limited weight bearing for about 6 weeks. Most Bunion surgeries do not require strict non-weight bearing as long as the patients bone quality is good. We use a special shoe with a rigid plastic sole. The shoe allows for swelling and protects the foot.
I break the recovery for bunions into 3 phases: 1. Immediate Post-Op. 2. Bone and Joint Healing (structural healing) 3. Soft tissue Recovery
Immediate Post-Op – Immediately following your surgery, it is important that you not put any weight on the surgical foot. Often the foot is completely numb (if a “block” type anesthetic was used). While the block is in place, if you were to walk on the foot, you could slip or trip or in some other way damage the surgery. Usually within the first few days, we will allow some limited weight bearing on the heel, avoiding pressure on the front of the foot. The first week to 10 days, the foot should be kept elevated to diminish swelling, which in turn will cut down on complications, improve comfort and decrease the risk of infection.
Bone and Joint Healing – During the first four to six weeks, the surgery must be allowed to heal. Cuts in the bone and sewn tendons and joints capsules are held together with suture (surgical thread) and bone screws that are strong enough to hold the repair in place, but not strong enough to support your body weight. Healing of the bone and soft tissues must occur to ensure a successful result. In most cases, we ask that the patient walk on their heel only for the first four to six weeks. Some patients will use crutches or a specialized knee cart during this period. During this period, I will typically check the foot every 2 weeks and change the dressings at those visits.
Specialized dressings reinforce the repair and protect the foot. These are changed in the office, not by the patient. Depending on the type of surgery, the second phase can last up to 2 months.
Medical problems such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and other medical problems can delay healing and lengthen this stage significantly. Smoking can cause significant delays in Bone healing.
Below are average recovery times (time to weight bearing) for procedures I commonly perform for bunions:
Silver/Akin/McBride procedures– These procedures are uncommonly done alone, since they are designed to correct very minor bunion deformities (which I mostly manage without surgery). Recovery is pretty quick and some patients can weight bear within 2 weeks when these procedures are done alone.
Distal Metatarsal Osteotomy (Distal Chevron) – Typically, full weight bearing is allowed at 4 weeks.
Proximal Metatarsal Osteotomy – Typically full weight bearing is allowed at 6 weeks.
Lapidus (Bunion correction with midfoot fusion) – This is a bigger operation, and healing of the fusion may take 6 to 8 weeks before full weight bearing can be allowed.
MTPJ Fusion – Fusion of the great toe is done when a bunion is accompanied by arthritis or to revise failed previous surgery. Full weight bearing is typically allowed at 4 weeks. Previous surgery on the great toe can lengthen this period.
Soft Tissue Recovery - For most procedures, full weight bearing is allowed after bone healing has occurred. During this phase, we sometimes use taping or toe spacers to hold the correction. During this time, the patient can discontinue the post-op shoe. Most are back in a regular walking shoe or gym shoe 2 to 3 months following the surgery.
Recovery is a team effort between myself and the patient. When we are in sync, things tend to go smoothly. If post-op instructions are ignored, poor results can follow. Always remember that my goal is your goal… to fix the problem, and to get you back to life as quickly as safely possible.
This is intended as general information only and not intended as treatment or diagnosis of a medical condition. Any concerns should be followed up with a doctor. Recovery times are generalized and may vary depending on the specific procedure done and other factors in your specific case.
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