Is Bunion Surgery the Best Option for Teens?

As if being a teenager isn’t hard enough, some unlucky young adults are at risk for bunion development – in fact, 30% of adolescents deal with the early onset or development of bunions, most being young women (outnumbering young men 10 to 1). Teens with bunions can enjoy the very same activities as all other teens; sports, dancing, and shoe shopping.  But facing unwanted attention for their bunions, being perceived as different, or having physical restrictions due to foot pain from bunions, can add to the already existing social pressures.   Despite the common assumption that bunions are a condition that develops later in life, this isn’t always the case.  In fact, doctors are seeing the onset of bunions becoming more common for younger women.

The only way to entirely remove a bunion is with surgery since it is a progressive condition, but many healthcare professionals discourage teens and parents from jumping to surgery too quick. Just because surgery may seem like the most effective solution, it doesn’t mean that it’s the right answer for your teen or child.  Teens with bunions have a range of non-invasive treatment options to choose from. These treatments should at a minimum begin with an evaluation and education on proper fitting footwear, and may change what your teen wears on their feet.  A simple modification made early (although not always the most fashionable) can save years of despair down the road.  Bunion pads, taping and splinting early stage bunions can also be very effective for teens with bunions. If your teen is dealing with an advanced bunion, you may consult a podiatrist or pedorthist about options for cortisone injections, ultrasound therapy or corrective orthotics.

Considering surgery without first addressing the root of the problem (i.e. restrictive or poorly fitting footwear or improper gait or loading of the foot), may result in your teen repeating surgeries during their lifetime.  According to Duke Orthopaedics’ Textbook of Orthopaedics, “due to the high recurrence rate (60%) [of adolescent bunions], most surgeons will attempt to delay surgery until after skeletal maturity”.  Certainly shoes can’t cause bunions but they can exasperate the problem, whereas wearing the proper footwear may delay the issue until much later.  Additionally, recent observations in the Journal of Children’s Orthopaedics found complications in teen bunion surgery to occur at a rate of 22%. One teen who recently decided to undergo bunion surgery suffered infection, which led to additional surgeries and the potential loss of his foot.  Besides the risk of infection, the most notable downside to surgery is the recovery time and its effect on a teen’s daily life. Our teenagers are busy. They bounce between school, friends, clubs and sports.  Full recovery from bunion removal surgery takes four to six months. That’s half of a school year, or worse – their entire summer plus part of the school year.

There are several options in the world of conservative bunion treatments for a teen, most of which do not disrupt their daily routine or ability to stay active.  So if your teen is complaining of a bunion, don’t count surgery as your only option. There are plenty of effective and non-invasive treatments, such as Bunion Bootie, available.