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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM

Bunionette surgery

by Laurie
(Florida)

I have a bunionette and have tried every conservative treatment available without success and have scheduled surgery for next week. My question is the doctor wants to do an osteotomy and remove the bone but not put it in any hardware. He said that the tendon will still be intact and hold the toe in place and it won't be floppy but it will be a little loose?Is it common to do this surgery without the use of hardware? I am concerned about a loose toe?


RESPONSE

Hi Laurie,

There are osteotomies that are performed without fixation. The bone cuts are made in such a manner that the two ends of the "broken" bone are wedged into each other, to keep them together.

I am not as worried about your fifth toe moving around as I am about the osteotomy actually healing.

I can't be of much more help here simply because I do not know exactly what kind of procedure he is contemplating, nor do I have the luxury of seeing x-rays or actually being able to examine you.

The good news is that it sounds like you have exhausted all conservative options, so surgery appears to be the way to go.

My best advice for you would be to get a second opinion from another local foot surgeon. If push comes to shove and you are uncomfortable about what is proposed for your foot, cancel your surgery.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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Mayo Clinic

Johns Hopkins Medicine

MedlinePlus

Arthritis Foundation

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Harvard Health

Drugs.com

American Academy of Pediatrics

Penn State Medical Center

National Institutes of Health

Columbia University Department of Rehabilitation

ScienceDirect

Stanford Health Care

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute

Mount Sinai Hospital

Institute for Chronic Pain

University of Florida Health

American Family Physician

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DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this site is purely informational in nature. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any medical condition. This information is not a substitute for advice from a medical professional. Please consult your healthcare provider for accurate diagnosis and treatment. The information presented here may be subject to errors and omissions.


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location unknown



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Wonderful advice

by: Anonymous

This is the best site for foot problem info.

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by: Max

location unknown
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location unknown
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North Carolina
Many Thanks Dr Marc!
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KG

location unknown

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Florida
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location unknown
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a mom

location unknown


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location unknown

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