Controversies and Trends in United Kingdom Bunion Surgery

Current practice and controversies in UK bunion surgery are discussed. Patients tend to be offered a distally based metatarsal osteotomy, such as a chevron or scarf osteotomy, for mild to moderate symptomatic bunions. Greater deformities are managed with a more extreme scarf, supplemented with a proximal phalangeal osteotomy. A proximal fusion in the form of the Lapidus-type procedure is still reserved for the most severe, hypermobile, or arthritic cases. Minimally invasive techniques for bunions have failed to disseminate into common UK practice. The trends in the United Kingdom regarding litigation, venous thromboembolism, and osteodesis for bunion surgery are also discussed.