KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Bunion surgery does not always require screws or plates. Dr. Sarah Stewart offers hardware-free minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for appropriate bunion patients.
  • MIS uses very small incisions. Specialized instruments allow the bone to be cut and repositioned while limiting disruption to surrounding soft tissue.
  • No permanent metal hardware remains in the foot. The technique avoids permanent screws and plates, which may appeal to patients concerned about implants or potential hardware irritation.
  • The approach differs from traditional bunion surgery. Potential advantages for selected patients include smaller incisions, less soft-tissue disruption, smaller scars, and earlier protected weight-bearing.

You may have had a bunion on your foot for a long time and never gave it much thought. However, when your shoes start to rub against the side of your foot, and walking creates an ache around your big toe, the bump on your foot may be harder to ignore.  Picture of two feet--one with a bunion

If you’re one of the approximately 20 million people who suffer from bunions, you may have considered seeing a podiatrist about it, but the thought of surgery keeps you from making an appointment. You may envision screws, plates, a hospital, and a recovery that could disrupt everyday life.

For appropriate patients, bunion correction does not have to follow that traditional picture. Dr. Sarah Stewart at Grandville Foot and Ankle offers hardware-free minimally invasive bunion surgery in Grandville. Dr. Stewart uses small incisions without leaving permanent screws or plates behind. Here, Dr. Stewart discusses hardware-free bunion surgery and whether you’re a candidate for this minimally invasive approach.

Table of Contents

Bunion Surgery Without Screws or Plates

A bunion is not simply an extra piece of bone growing from the side of the foot. The visible bump develops because the bones around the big toe joint have shifted out of alignment. Effective correction may require repositioning the bone rather than simply shaving away the bump. For some patients, minimally invasive bunion procedures can correct the foot deformity without permanent metal implants.

With minimally invasive surgery (MIS), Dr. Stewart uses specialized instruments to work through several very small incisions in the foot. She may shave the prominent bump, make a precise bone cut, and reposition the bone into improved alignment. Her hardware-free technique allows the corrected bone to heal without permanent screws or plates remaining in the foot. That distinction matters to patients who have postponed treatment because they dislike the idea of metal implants.

Why MIS Is a Preferred Option for Some Patients

Instead of conservative treatment or a traditional bunion surgical procedure that involves a longer incision and may use screws or plates to stabilize the corrected bones, hardware-free MIS is different because:

  • It requires smaller incisions.
  • It preserves more of the surrounding tissue, which may encourage less stiffness and swelling.
  • It may provide earlier protected walking—many MIS patients can bear weight in a surgical shoe sooner than patients undergoing some traditional procedures, although individual recovery varies.
  • It requires no stay at a hospital or surgical center.

These advantages do not make MIS a “minor” procedure. The bone still needs time to heal, and following postoperative restrictions remains essential. However, the advantages for patients who meet the requirements for this type of surgery are significant.

Patients That Might Benefit From MIS

Hardware-free bunion surgery isn’t right for every bunion. And choosing the right procedure matters more than choosing the smallest incision. Hardware-free MIS tends to be an option for carefully selected patients. Dr. Stewart evaluates the bunion’s severity, joint position and flexibility, bone quality, overall foot health, activity goals, and factors that could affect healing.

Weight-bearing X-rays can help reveal what is happening beneath the visible bump, and traditional surgery may still be more appropriate when a bunion is severe, the joint is unstable, or another structural problem needs correction. A consultation helps answer the questions that an online search cannot.

Why Avoiding Permanent Hardware Matters

For someone already nervous about bunion surgery, knowing that metal implants will remain in the foot can become one more reason to wait. Some patients worry about feeling the hardware during exercise or daily activities. Hardware can also occasionally cause irritation and require later removal.

Hardware-free bunion surgery eliminates concerns specifically associated with permanent screws and plates. For an active patient hoping to spend years running, hiking, traveling, working on their feet, or simply wearing shoes comfortably, that can make the idea of correction feel much more approachable.

We Are the Only Podiatry Practice in West Michigan Offering MIS, Hardware-Free Bunion Correction

Grandville Foot and Ankle is currently the only podiatry practice in West Michigan offering this hardware-free MIS bunion correction. Patients who once thought they would need to travel farther for this option can now discuss it locally with Dr. Stewart.

Let Us Help You Find Relief From Your Bunion Pain

Bunions can make every step uncomfortable, especially when shoes rub against the painful bump near your big toe. If you are dealing with bunion pain, swelling, redness, stiffness, or trouble finding shoes that fit comfortably, Grandville Foot and Ankle is here to help.

Our podiatry team proudly serves patients from Grandville, Jenison, Hudsonville, Georgetown, Zeeland, Grand Rapids, Caledonia, Kentwood, Lowell, and communities throughout Michigan. Whether your bunion is just starting to bother you or it has been causing pain for years, our doctor can evaluate your condition, explain your treatment options, and help you take the next step toward relief. Contact us today.