by Brad Hayman, DPM, Complete Foot & Ankle Care
Bunions (hallux valgus) are a common foot condition in which a deformity of the forefoot involves the first metatarsal and hallux (large toe).
This problem can cause pain when wearing shoes — inflammation of the first metatarsal phalangeal joint often can be accompanied by a painful contracture of the lesser digits of the involved foot.
Nonsurgical management of a bunion deformity can include protective padding, orthotics and wearing a wider shoe to protect the area of painful irritation. When conservative measures do not manage the patient’s painful bunion there now is a new surgical option that addresses the underlying deformity. It’s called a Lapiplasty procedure.
This procedure is done as an outpatient and affords early ambulation after the surgery with a four to six week recovery and return to full activity in three to four months.
Over the years there have been many surgical techniques to address the bunion deformity. Unfortunately the long-term success of some procedures has been less than satisfactory. The Lapiplasty procedure provides a better anatomic correction of the bunion deformity with less chance of a reoccurrence.
An office X-ray can show the degree of the deformity and if a particular patient is a candidate for the Lapiplasty procedure.