Bunion surgery is one of the most common procedures performed by Dr. Campitelli in Akron, Ohio. Bunions are often described as a bump on the side of the big toe. But a bunion is more than that. The visible bump actually reflects changes in the bony framework of the front part of the foot. With a bunion, the big toe leans toward the second toe, rather than pointing straight ahead. This throws the bones out of alignment producing the bunion’s bump.  The condition is hereditary and typically progresses in severity with age.

It is typically not indicated to have bunion surgery unless the condition is becoming painful and effecting your everyday activities. Diabetic patients will sometimes require corrective surgery for bunions when the condition is causing ulcers or wounds to form as a result of abnormal pressure. The longer (in years) that one waits to correct a deformity, the more arthritis that will occur to the joint, and less correction can be achieved. We can walk you through the bunion surgeryprocess, educate you on the recovery, and discuss when it’s time to proceed with correction.  Dr. Campitelli has become one of the area’s leading experts in bunion surgery and is involved in teaching foot and ankle surgery residents at both University Hospitals and Western Reserve Hospitals.  You can elect to have your bunion surgery performed by Dr. Campitelli at the following institutions:  Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center, Summa Health Systems, Western Reserve Hospital, and University Hospital Portage Medical Center.

In order to “correct” a bunion deformity, the joint itself needs to be realigned.  Traditional bunion surgery simply involves realigning the head of the 1st Metatarsal bone by making a cut through the bone and fixing with a screw (that does not need to be removed).  This is the technique that most surgeons perform as well as what Dr. Campitelli used to perform prior to minimally invasive bunion surgery.  In more severe cases, the entire metatarsal bone will need to be realigned by “fusing” a joint in the midfoot region. In either case, the procedure is agreed upon by the physician and the patient to ensure the deformity will not reoccur.

Dr. Campitelli was trained in the aforementioned techniques and performed as well as taught them to resident surgeons over the past 15 years.  Currently, an overwhelming majority of the bunion surgeries that Dr. Campitelli performs is through the minimally invasive technique.  Click here to learn more about minimally invasive bunion surgery and how Dr. Campitelli has brought this technique to the Akron/Cleveland, OH region in addition to becoming an instructor for surgeons throughout the US.