Bunions

What is a bunion?

A bunion is a bump that forms on the side of your big toe joint. Bunions can make it difficult and painful to wear certain shoes and walk normally. When a similar bump forms on your little toe, it’s called a bunionette. 

Bunions don’t go away without professional treatment. It’s important to call Precision Podiatry as soon as you suspect you have a bunion. 

What causes bunions?

A bunion may look like an overgrowth of bone, but its cause is more complex. The bunion bump is actually due to a misalignment in the long bones of your toes, called metatarsals. The misalignment causes your big toe to lean inward instead of pointing straight. Over time, this puts pressure on the joint and causes a bunion bump to appear.

Some people are more prone to developing bunions based on inherited foot mechanics. Other foot conditions, such as hammertoe, may increase your risk of developing a bunion. 

What are the symptoms of a bunion?

The most prominent bunion symptom is a bump on the inside of your foot at the base of your big toe. Wearing high heels or shoes that are too snug in the toe box may aggravate a bunion and cause pain, redness, and swelling. This can lead to decreased movement in your big toe or foot.

Other symptoms include corns and calluses that may develop where your first and second toes rub together. In some cases, bunions can lead to bursitis, which is inflammation of the fluid-filled sac in your toe joint.

How are bunions diagnosed and treated?

Your Precision Podiatry provider can diagnose a bunion by examining your foot. Then, they take an X-ray to evaluate the extent of your condition and determine the best approach to treatment. 

Most bunion symptoms improve with conservative treatments, such as:

• Changing to more comfortable footwear with a roomy toe box
• Wearing functional orthotic shoe inserts
• Padding or cushioning the bunion 
• Icing the bunion

If you continue to experience pain and symptoms despite treatment, surgery may be necessary. The expert surgeons at Precision Podiatry use cutting-edge techniques, including the Lapiplasty 3D bunion correction procedure. Lapiplasty corrects the root cause of a bunion deformity instead of merely shaving the bone. 

For lasting relief from bunion pain, call Precision Podiatry to book an appointment today.

Lapiplasty Q & A

Traditional Surgery Is A 2D Solution For A 3D Problem

Traditional bunion surgery has been limited to an incomplete, two-dimensional (2D) approach to correction; cutting the bone in half and pushing the top part over to reduce the appearance of the bump. This 2D "cut and shift" approach primarily addresses the bunion's symptoms, not the root cause – the unstable foundational joint – leaving the bunion significantly more likely to come back to some degree.

How Does Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction Work?

Instead of cutting the bone in half and shifting the top part over, the patented Lapiplasty Procedure uses specially-designed instrumentation to rotate the entire deviated bone back into its normal anatomical position, naturally straightening your toe; removing the "bump" and associated pain. Innovative titanium plating technology permanently secures the unstable foundation, the root of your bunion problem. Most patients are 5,6 able to walk within days of surgery. No cast is required; allowing patients to get back to the shoe wear of their choice and activities quickly.

What Does A Correction Look Like On X-Ray?

Lapiplasty Patented Titanium Plating Technology — Enabling Early Weight Bearing

The Lapiplasty Procedure utilizes two low-profile (petite), anatomically-shaped titanium plates to permanently secure the unstable foundation of your corrected bunion. This provides buttressing on multiple planes and allows you to walk within days of surgery. Think of this in terms of how a basketball player might hold a basketball. When a player tightly grips the ball with both hands, the ball is held more securely than if only one hand is used. Unlike other surgical approaches, the Lapiplasty Procedure utilizes two plates for this very reason – "Two plates are better than one".

What Should I Expect In Terms Of Recovery?

The patented titanium plating technology used with the Lapiplasty Procedure enables patients to bear weight on their foot early. The ability to do so can dramatically improve your recovery process, allowing you to walk up to 6-8 weeks earlier than with the more traditional Lapidus approach (which was previously the only option for addressing the unstable joint).

Being able to walk in a surgical boot, as opposed to being completely non-weight bearing (in a cast with scooter or crutches) for 6-8 weeks, means that you will be getting back to a better quality of life faster; may return to most occupations more quickly; and will be less inconvenienced by bunion surgery.

How long does it take to recover from a Lapiplasty Procedure?

Patients are typically walking within days of surgery. Patients can return to most occupations within days to a couple of weeks, wearing a surgical boot. Within six weeks, you can expect to be walking in comfortable shoes such as tennis shoes, however you should not plan on any high-impact activities for 3-4 months. Short shopping trips and leisurely strolls are examples of the types of activities that should be fine at this point. Around the 4-month mark post-op, you should be able to return to most activities and most shoe wear.

Can I wear fashionable shoes again?

The Lapiplasty Procedure allows most patients to return to their desired shoes. Of course, some fashionable shoes can be painful (even with a normal foot!), so results can vary from person to person and shoe to shoe.

Can I play sports after the Lapiplasty Procedure?

Yes, there are no permanent activity limitations after the Lapiplasty Procedure. Most patients are able to return to most activities after the bones have completely healed at approximately 4 months.

Can the Lapiplasty Procedure be performed on someone who has previously had traditional surgery?

Yes, the Lapiplasty Procedure is an option that can be utilized by your doctor when a revision is required. Even if previously treated, patients can experience the same benefits from Lapiplasty – with a permanently secured foundational joint this time around.

I’ve heard the term "reproducible" used when describing the Lapiplasty Procedure. What does that mean?

"Reproducible" means that a procedure is easily repeatable with expected results. The Lapiplasty Procedure utilizes precision, patented instrumentation designed to take the guesswork and "eyeballing" out of bunion surgery; helping ensure your surgeon can get reliable results over and over.

Can the Lapiplasty Procedure be performed as an outpatient procedure & how long does it last?

Yes, Lapiplasty surgeries are performed as outpatient procedures. Typically, the surgery will last just under an hour. If your doctor is performing any additional procedures at the same time, the surgery may take longer.

Call the office or book an appointment today for the most advanced care in bunion correction.