Understanding Bunions: What X-rays Reveal to Your Doctor

Bunion deformities

- Lateral deviation of great toe (hallux)

- Shows amount of deviation

- Medial prominence of first metatarsal bone

- Indicates osteophyte on medial side of metatarsal head

- Narrow lateral joint space of first MTP joint

- Indicates cartilage loss. Cartilage is transparent to X-rays, so narrowing of a joint space on X-ray means less cartilage is present within the joint (degenerative arthropathy)

- Enlarged sesamoid bones associated with the great toe

- Sesamoids may occasionally have spurs

- Increased prominence of second metatarsal head (common)

- May displace big toe even further in lateral direction