Hallux valgus

A bunion.

A condition of the foot, where the big toe turns towards the other toes and a bunion is formed.

Deformity of the foot in which the great toe is angled laterally toward the other toes.

A deformity of the foot caused by an osteoarthritic degenerative condition in the joint of the big toe. It is characterized by the big toe moving inward toward the second toe and sometimes overlapping it or becoming positioned under it. With time, the condition becomes increasingly painful. Hallux valgus is more common in women and tends to be inherited. It is aggravated by the wearing of high heeled or ill-fitting shoes, particularly those with a narrow, pointed toe box. An inflamed and painful bunion almost always develops at the site of the affected joint.

Outward displacement of the great toe always associated with a bunion. It is due to the pressure of footwear on an unduly broad foot. In adolescents, this broad foot is inherited; in adults it is due to splaying of the foot as a result of loss of muscle tone. The bunion is produced by pressure of the footwear on the protruding base of the toe. In mild cases the wearing of comfortable shoes may be all that is needed. In more severe cases the bunion may need to be removed, while in the most severe the operations of arthroplasty or arthrodesis may be needed.

Displacement of the great toe toward the other toes.

Hallux valgus is a deformity where the joint at the base of the big toe protrudes outwards from the foot while the top of the toe angles inwards. This condition is more prevalent in women, largely due to the wearing of narrow, pointy, high-heeled shoes. However, it could also result from an inherited weakness in the joint. Hallux valgus often leads to the development of a bunion or osteoarthritis in the joint, which can cause pain and restrict foot movement. Severe deformities may be treated by osteotomy, which involves removing a part of the bone, or arthrodesis, the fusing of bones within a joint.