Blog · 2026-09-29

Tailor's Bunion (Bunionette): Causes, Treatment and Surgery

PUBLISHED 2026-09-29 · Op. Dr. Serdar Karaman, Orthopedics & Traumatology · Live Taller Now

In short: a tailor's bunion, or bunionette, is a bony prominence on the outside of the foot at the base of the little toe, where the fifth metatarsal bone pushes outward. Wider shoes, padding and orthotics relieve most cases. Surgery, usually a small bone cut called an osteotomy, is considered when pain persists despite good footwear.

What a tailor's bunion is

A tailor's bunion is the mirror image of a classic bunion. Instead of the big toe joint drifting and the first metatarsal pushing inward, the head of the fifth metatarsal, the long bone that leads to the little toe, becomes prominent on the outer edge of the foot. The name dates back to tailors who sat cross-legged for hours with the outside of their feet pressed against the floor, which made the bump sore. The medical name is bunionette, and it can occur on its own or alongside a big toe bunion, explained in our guide to what a bunion is.

Why it forms

Most bunionettes come from inherited foot structure. In some people the fifth metatarsal angles outward more than usual, is bowed, or has a wide head, so the bone sits prominently at the side of the foot. Footwear does not usually create the deformity, but tight or pointed shoes press on the bump all day and turn a harmless prominence into a painful one. A splayed forefoot, flat feet and tight calf muscles can add to the pressure.

• Visible bump on the outside of the foot, just behind the little toe.
• Redness, swelling or a fluid-filled bursa over the bump after wearing shoes.
• Corns or calluses on the side of the foot or under the fifth metatarsal head.
• Pain that eases barefoot and returns in narrow shoes.

Treatments that help without surgery

Non-surgical care cannot move the bone, but it controls pressure, and for most people that is enough. Shoes with a wide, deep toe box are the single most effective step. Gel or felt pads over the bump, stretching the shoe at the pressure point, and custom orthotics that redistribute load all help. A short course of anti-inflammatory medication and ice can calm a flare, and if a painful bursa forms over the bump, a doctor may offer a corticosteroid injection. Trimming a callus reduces pain but does not stop it coming back unless the pressure is removed.

When surgery makes sense

Surgery is considered when pain continues despite well-fitted, wide shoes, when the bump makes ordinary footwear impossible, or when recurring skin breakdown or bursitis keeps returning. The choice of procedure depends on the X-ray. A small prominence can be treated by shaving the bump, but recurrence is common, so most surgeons prefer an osteotomy: a controlled cut near the head of the fifth metatarsal to shift it back into line, fixed with a small screw or pin. Larger or bowed deformities may need the cut further along the bone. Planning always starts from standing X-rays that measure the angle between the fourth and fifth metatarsals.

Recovery and what to expect

Bunionette surgery is usually a day procedure. Most patients walk in a stiff-soled post-operative shoe for about six weeks while the bone heals, with the foot elevated as much as possible in the first two weeks to control swelling. Ordinary wide shoes typically become comfortable from around six to eight weeks, and residual swelling can last several months. Risks include infection, stiffness, delayed bone healing and recurrence, all reduced by correct procedure choice and protected walking. The timeline is similar to big toe surgery, which we break down week by week in bunion surgery recovery time, and both are assessed on our bunion surgery in Turkey page.

Frequently asked questions