28. What is the success rate of bunion surgery?
There is no single honest percentage because studies define success differently. Pain relief, function, satisfaction, alignment, complications and revision are separate outcomes. Long-term evidence supports Chevron osteotomy in appropriate cases, while also showing that some radiographic drift can occur.
29. Can a bunion come back?
Yes. Recurrence risk depends on original severity, joint and sesamoid alignment, procedure selection, correction and follow-up duration. A mild radiographic recurrence may remain painless and need no further treatment.
30. Do the screws have to be removed?
Usually not. Titanium fixation commonly remains permanently. Removal is considered only when healed hardware is persistently symptomatic, prominent, infected or otherwise problematic, after confirming that the bone has united.
Chapter 8 Summary
The central message across these questions is that bunions should be treated according to symptoms, function, deformity and patient goals. Non-surgical treatment can improve comfort without permanently reversing adult bony alignment. Surgery can provide substantial benefit when the correct procedure is matched to the individual foot, but recovery takes time and results cannot be guaranteed.
Next chapter: Chapter 9 examines complex and revision bunion surgery, including why previous surgery can fail, how recurrent deformity is assessed and why revision planning is different from primary surgery.
Evidence used for this chapter
1. Dias CG, et al. Surgical interventions for treating hallux valgus and bunions. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024. PubMed
2. Klugarova J, et al. Effectiveness of surgery for adults with hallux valgus deformity: systematic review. 2017. PubMed
3. Peng YN, et al. Chevron versus Scarf osteotomy: systematic review and meta-analysis. 2024. PubMed
4. Schneider W, et al. Chevron osteotomy in hallux valgus: ten-year results. 2004. PubMed
5. Pentikäinen I, et al. Long-term recurrence after distal Chevron osteotomy. 2014. PubMed
6. Lalevée M, et al. Recurrence rates with longer-term follow-up after hallux valgus correction. 2023. PubMed
7. Schuh R, et al. Rehabilitation after hallux valgus surgery. 2009. PubMed
Medical disclaimer
These frequently asked questions provide general educational information. They do not replace an individual history, examination, weight-bearing imaging, informed consent or advice from the treating surgical team.