[Medical Q&A] If I have "big toe bone", is it okay to just cut off the protruding part?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Han Liqiang, deputy chief physician, Tianjin University Central Hospital

"Big toe bone" is a common foot disease in clinical practice. Its medical name is "hallux valgus". In daily life, people commonly call it "big toe bone" because a noticeable protrusion will form on the inside of the big toe of the patient's foot, making the front of the foot appear to be significantly wider and larger. Many people think that they can just remove the enlarged part, but in fact it is not that simple.

To explain this problem, we must first understand the pathology of hallux valgus. Hallux valgus deformity refers to the deviation and displacement of the big toe to the outside at the first metatarsophalangeal joint, which makes the inside of the first metatarsophalangeal joint appear to be obviously protruding. As the deformity persists for a long time, a large number of hyperplastic osteophytes will form in this area, which makes the inside appear larger and more obvious. If only the hyperplastic protrusion is removed by surgery, it will feel that this place seems to be not so big in the short term, and it seems to solve the problem, but the root cause of the hallux valgus deformity has not been solved. New osteophytes will soon form on the inside of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, and the appearance that was originally improved by surgery will soon be "revealed". Therefore, the radical cure of hallux valgus deformity requires solving the deviation and displacement of the big toe to the outside at the first metatarsophalangeal joint, and osteotomy is often required to cure it. There are many corrective surgical methods for hallux valgus deformity, and the specific surgical procedure needs to be evaluated according to the degree of hallux valgus deformity of the patient. It should be emphasized that if you have "big foot bone", you must go to a regular hospital for treatment, and never believe in false advertisements.