Health encyclopaedia

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Bunion

A bunion is a bony swelling on the side of the big toe. It happens when the joint becomes thickened and swollen, and it can be painful.

The foot is normally structured so that the big toe is naturally in line with the long bone leading up to it (the first metatarsal) and all the toes spread outwards from this. Many people however have  a deformity of the foot called Hallux valgus. This is a condition in which the big toe is angled inwards towards the other toes, causing the joint at the base of the big toe to stick out slightly. Bunions are formed as a result of  this Hallux valgus deformity . They happen when rubbing against the bone causes it to become swollen.

The joint is protected by a small sac of fluid called a bursa. Rubbing against the joint sometimes causes this sac to become inflamed, swollen and sore. This condition is called bursitis.

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