Bunion Removal Study

Why participate in this clinical research study?

Clinical studies are what allow all medications to come to market, including drugs that treat pain, infections, and various medical conditions. Without clinical studies, no new medications would be made available for use and they are only possible with the help of participants like you. Compensation varies by study, time involved, and whether you complete all visits and procedures in the study. Every volunteer study at JBR Clinical Research is approved and monitored by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to make sure the risks are as low as possible and are worth any potential benefits to the volunteer.

What to expect:

Subjects that qualify for the study may receive bunion removal surgery by our board-certified podiatrists, in our state-of-the-art facility. This study has a screening visit, a 3-Night/ 4-day inpatient stay, and follow up visits.

• Most subjects are back to work in a week for desk jobs, two weeks if on their feet all day.
• The subject does not use crutches at any time. They are encouraged to be weight bearing after the first 72 hours. This will not adversely affect the surgical outcome.
• They will leave JBR wearing a walking shoe for approximately 4-6 weeks (Surgeon will advise)

FAQs

What is a Bunion?
A bunion (hallux valgus) is a deformity of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint at the base of the big toe. A bunion develops when the big toe pushes against the other toes, sometimes diving over or under them. As a result, the base of the big toe – the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint – juts or angles out from the foot.

What Causes a Bunion?
Shoes with narrow toes can trigger a bunion, but they’re not the underlying cause. Bunions run in families, because foot type (shape and structure) is hereditary, and some types are more prone to bunions than others.
Low arches, flat feet, and loose joints and tendons all increase the risk. The shape of the metatarsal head (the top of the first metatarsal bone) also makes a difference: if it’s too round, the joint is less stable and more likely to deform when squeezed into shoes with narrow toes.
High heels can exacerbate a potential bunion problem because they tip the body’s weight forward, forcing the toes into the front of the shoe. This may help to explain why bunions are 10 times more common in women than in men.
People in occupations such as teaching and nursing, that involve a lot of standing and walking, are more susceptible to bunions. Ballet dancers, whose feet suffer severe repetitive stress, are also amongst those who experience bunions.
Women can sometimes develop bunions and other foot problems during pregnancy because hormonal changes loosen the ligaments and flatten the feet. Bunions are also associated with arthritis, which damages the cartilage within the joint.
Why Bunions Should to be Treated
The MTP joint helps us bear and distribute weight during a range of activities. A bunion at this critical junction of bones, tendons, and ligaments can seriously impair the foot’s ability to function. A bunion on the big toe can damage the other toes. Under the pressure of the big toe, they may develop corns or become bent, forming “hammertoes.”

Toes with bunions often have nails that become ingrown. Calluses may form on the bottom of the foot. If you constantly shift your weight off the painful big toe joint to other metatarsals, you may also develop discomfort in the ball of the foot. As the misshapen joint becomes more uncomfortable and harder to fit into shoes, exercise and other activities, even walking, may become difficult.
Foot disorders are a major cause of disability and sedentary habits in older women. A foot study that involved almost 3,000 women and men, ages 56 and older, found that women are more likely to have bunions as they get older, and the more severe their bunions are, the lower their quality of life. Bunion pain and deformity usually interfered with daily routines and physical activity.

Bunions Removal and Treatment Options
There are multiple surgical procedures available to treat bunions. Determining which type of bunion correction is appropriate often depends upon the severity of the bunion, the age of the patient, and deformity of the foot. JBR Clinical Research’s bunion clinical trial offers bunion removal for participation in the study and may include compensation for time.
If you are interested in finding out if you could be a candidate for this pain associated with bunion removal study, please fill out the form on this page. A representative from JBR Clinical Research will be in contact with you to discuss your eligibility and next steps.

To be considered for the study, please fill out the form or call 801-261-2000.