Bunion surgery patient satisfaction rates range from 70.5% to 97% across the methods in published research, and a pooled review of 229 studies found that 10.6% of patients felt dissatisfied after surgery. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) case series report rates between 87% and 97%, while open procedures that realign the bone through a larger incision report rates between 70.5% and 93%.
Our research team reviewed 12 published bunion surgery studies from 2004 through 2025 to compare how patients rate each correction method. The sections below start with overall satisfaction by method, then narrow to the specific results patients ask about most when choosing a surgeon.
Key Takeaways
- Pooled satisfaction: A review of 229 studies found that 10.6% of patients reported dissatisfaction after bunion surgery, leaving 89.4% satisfied with their result.
- Highest reported rate: A percutaneous osteotomy study of 156 procedures reported a 97% satisfaction rate at a median follow-up of 22.6 months.
- MIS vs. open at five years: In a randomized trial, 89% of MIS chevron patients called themselves very satisfied at five years, compared with 70% of open chevron patients.
- Lapidus fusion: Lapidus fusion results vary more than any other method, with satisfaction ranging from 70.5% in a 78-patient survey to 93% in a 213-procedure review.
Patient Satisfaction Rate by Bunion Surgery Method, 2026
Satisfaction rates in the published research differ by 26.5 percentage points between the highest and lowest studies we reviewed. Each study measures satisfaction through its own patient survey, so the rates show broad patterns across methods. The table below lists each study’s satisfaction rate next to its sample size, and the third column shows how long each study followed its patients.
| Surgical Method | Patients or Feet Studied | Average Follow-Up | Satisfaction Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| All methods (pooled review) | 229 studies | Varies by study | 89.4%1 |
| Percutaneous distal osteotomy (MIS) | 156 procedures | 22.6 months (median) | 97%2 |
| Minimally invasive chevron and Akin (MICA) | 274 feet | 12.9 months | 91.6%2 |
| Minimally invasive chevron and Akin (MICA) | 78 feet | 25 months | 87%2 |
| Open modified chevron osteotomy (includes 48 big toe arthritis cases) | 232 feet | 41.7 months | 93%4 |
| Lapidus fusion | 213 procedures | 5.4 years | 93%5 |
| Open scarf osteotomy | 123 feet | 4.8 years | 84.6%6 |
| Lapidus fusion | 78 patients | 17 months | 70.5%7 |
Key Insights:
- MIS case series in the table report satisfaction between 87% and 97%, though each one followed patients for about two years or less.
- Open procedures with nearly five years of follow-up or longer still earn satisfaction rates of 84.6% or higher.
Minimally Invasive vs. Open Bunion Surgery Satisfaction Rates, 2026
Head-to-head studies give patients the most direct comparison because both groups answer the same survey at the same time points. Our analysis below tracks how satisfaction shifted over time across two head-to-head studies.
| Study Design | Procedures Compared | Time Point | MIS Group | Open Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randomized trial (47 patients) | MIS chevron vs. open chevron | 9 months | 87.5% satisfied3 | 85% satisfied3 |
| Randomized trial (47 patients) | MIS chevron vs. open chevron | 5 years | 89% very satisfied3 | 70% very satisfied3 |
| Matched cohort (60 patients) | MICA vs. open scarf and Akin | 6 months | 87% satisfied3 | 73% satisfied3 |
| Matched cohort (60 patients) | MICA vs. open scarf and Akin | 24 months | 80% satisfied3 | 87% satisfied3 |
Key Insights:
- The MIS chevron group’s very satisfied share climbed from 62.5% at nine months to 89% at five years, while the open group stayed at 70%.
- The matched cohort favored MICA at six months, but the open scarf group overtook it by 24 months with 87% satisfaction.
Top Satisfaction Ratings by Bunion Surgery Method, 2026
Overall satisfaction can hide how strongly patients feel about their results, so several studies split answers into rating levels. Each survey labels its top tier differently, so the second column shows the exact term patients chose. The table below shows the share of patients who picked the highest rating each study offered.
| Surgical Method | Top Rating Offered | Share Choosing Top Rating | Follow-Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIS chevron (randomized trial) | Very satisfied | 89%3 | 5 years |
| Percutaneous chevron and Akin (PECA) | Highly satisfied | 76.8%2 | 3.1 years |
| Third-generation MICA | Excellent | 70%2 | 12 months |
| Open modified chevron osteotomy | Very satisfied | 70%4 | 41.7 months |
| Open chevron (randomized trial) | Very satisfied | 70%3 | 5 years |
Key Insights:
- The MIS chevron group posted the highest top-rating share at 89%, which beats every open procedure in the table by 19 percentage points.
- Three of the five groups placed exactly 70% of patients in the top tier, and the remaining 30% of third-generation MICA patients reported a good outcome.
Bunion Surgery Dissatisfaction Rates by Method, 2026
Dissatisfaction rates tell patients how often surgery falls short of their expectations, and the studies we reviewed place that figure between 1% and 15%. In our analysis below, each row lists the share of patients who reported dissatisfaction after surgery.
| Surgical Method | Patients or Feet Studied | Follow-Up | Dissatisfied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open chevron (randomized trial) | 22 patients | 9 months | 15%3 |
| All methods (pooled review) | 229 studies | Varies by study | 10.6%1 |
| MIS chevron (randomized trial) | 25 patients | 9 months | 8.3%3 |
| Lapidus fusion | 78 patients | 17 months | 7%7 |
| Open modified chevron osteotomy | 232 feet | 41.7 months | 1%4 |
Key Insights:
- At nine months, the open chevron group reported nearly double the dissatisfaction rate of the MIS chevron group in the same randomized trial.
- In the Lapidus survey, 80.2% of patients said they would choose the same method again, even though only 70.5% described themselves as satisfied.
Further Reading
- Success Rate of Bunion Surgery: Comparing the Options
- Bunion Surgery Complication Rate Statistics, 2026 Report
- Bunion Surgery Recurrence Rate Statistics, 2026 Report
- Bunion Surgery Recovery Time, 2026 Guide
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Sources
- Barg A, et al. Unfavorable Outcomes Following Surgical Treatment of Hallux Valgus Deformity: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 2018
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Surgical Techniques for Correcting Hallux Valgus: Other Relevant Studies, 2023
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Surgical Techniques for Correcting Hallux Valgus: Evidence Summary, 2023
- Vasso M, et al. A Modified Austin/Chevron Osteotomy for Treatment of Hallux Valgus and Hallux Rigidus. Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 2016
- Asafo AF, et al. Patient-Reported and Radiologic Outcomes With the Lapidus Procedure. Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics, 2022
- Freslon M, et al. Scarf Osteotomy for the Treatment of Hallux Valgus: A Review of 123 Cases With 4.8 Years Follow-Up. Revue de Chirurgie Orthopédique, 2005
- Rink-Brüne O. Lapidus Arthrodesis for Management of Hallux Valgus: A Retrospective Review of 106 Cases. Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, 2004