bunion

Inflammation of the joint between the big toe and the first metatarsal bone. It tends to displace the big toe inwards, causing a bony prominence. It is due to the wearing of ill-fitting shoes.

Podiatry can remove painful callosities. Underlying foot problems may be treated with surgical shoes with a broad, deep toe. Exercises and physiotherapy to restore proper alignment of the bones of the foot may be of value in the early stages of the development of bunions, but have little success in established cases.

Tailor's bunion, or bunionette, is a bunion arising over a prominence on the outer aspect of the foot at the base of the little toe. It is said to have arisen in tailors as a result of their traditional sitting position with knees apart and outsides of the feet pressed to the ground. Treatment is mainly surgical.