A bunion, or hallux valgus, is a bony bump that forms at the base of the big toe joint. Over time the big toe can migrate from its original position, resulting in the toe overlapping and or rubbing against the second toe. During this migration, the long bone (1st metatarsal) connected behind the big toe also moves and further makes the prominent bump worse. These bumps typically form and grow on the outside edge of the foot. There are a wide array of treatment forms available, however since the underlying problem is based on the skeletal structure, the only way to truly remove the bunion is through surgery. The most common form of surgery is an Osteotomy or cutting of the bone. During an osteotomy, a podiatric surgeon will make a small incision to gain access to the 1st metatarsal. The prominent bone is removed and then a small cut is created within the bone to allow for a portion of the bone to be repositioned into a straight position. Then by using pins and screws, the surgeon can stabilize the bones in this corrected alignment.