Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction is a revolutionary new bunion surgery that eliminates the old, outdated methods of bunion removal and offers you a much better experience. This new approach to treating bunions is a groundbreaking, 3-dimensional procedure that treats the root of the problem and not just the symptoms.
What are Bunions?
Bunions (pronounced boo-NEE) are painful enlargements of the first and second joints of the big toe joint. They are generally caused by abnormal pressure on the ligaments that attach to the two bones. This can be caused by wearing shoes with a pointy toe or by having a high arch in the foot.
Bunions are a progressive deformity, which means they do not just go away on their own. The only way to permanently treat a bunion is with lapiplasty 3D bunion correction surgery.
Key Causes of Bunions
Bunions can be caused by a variety of different factors:
Ill-fitting shoes – Shoes that are too narrow squish your toes together, forcing the big toe to bend nearly at a right angle against the foot. As the big toe bends further, it begins to push against your other toes, causing them to become deformed or crowded. This crowding can lead to corns and calluses.
Foot injuries -Fractures, sprains or other injuries to the foot can make bunions more likely to occur again in the same foot or even in the opposite foot.
Arthritis- Bunions can develop as the result of arthritis in your foot that changes the alignment of your big toe joint.
Heredity – Your chances of developing bunions are higher if bunions run in your family and you inherit your parents’ low arches, flat feet or loose joints and tendons.
What’s the Reason for Performing Lapiplasty 3d Bunion Correction Surgery?
Lapiplasty corrects bunions while realigning your entire toe back to its normal position, restoring your natural anatomy and relieving your foot pain.
Bunions are progressive deformities of your big toe that affect the joints at the base of your toe. The shape of your foot changes as a result of joint and tissue damage, which is why traditional bunion treatments have not been effective at giving patients long-term relief from their foot pain.
To truly get lasting results from your bunion treatment, it’s important to address the structural problems beneath the surface. Lapiplasty does just that by correcting all three dimensions of your toe joint.1
Lapiplasty 3d Bunion Correction Vs Traditional Lapidus Procedure
Lapiplasty is a specific type of Lapidus bunionectomy that uses three-dimensional imaging to plan and perform the surgery. Compared to traditional Lapidus procedures that use two-dimensional X-rays during surgery, Lapiplasty uses advanced three-dimensional imaging (3D) technology called C-arm CT, which produces accurate images while allowing surgeons to view the patient’s foot in real-time during surgery. These 3D images help the surgeon clearly see each joint in the foot and ankle so that they can identify any alignment problems and determine how best to correct them.
Lapiplasty Procedure Explained
The procedure involves the removal of bone from one or both sides of the foot to create an elongated and more symmetrical shape.
The procedure has two stages. The surgeons use special instruments designed for this procedure to make precise angular cuts along the bones of the foot first, a small incision is made on the side of the foot, usually in the center; then, several cuts are made in the bone across this incision to remove the bone.
Unlike some other cosmetic procedures that can be performed with local anesthesia, Lapidus surgery requires general anesthesia. During this time, the patient must be completely still, and a small tube is inserted into his or her mouth to help them breathe. There are many risks associated with this type of surgery; it may cause infection and lead to abnormal blood clotting (thrombosis) in some patients.
What are the Benefits of Lapiplasty Procedure?
It may be performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia or regional nerve block, which may reduce recovery time
Enables patients to avoid having a pin protruding from their foot during recovery, reducing the risk of pin tract infections and allowing patients to be more active during recovery
Minimally invasive, less soft tissue dissection technique compared to traditional open procedures may reduce pain and swelling during recovery with faster return to normal activities, including walking in most cases without the use of crutches or a boot after surgery
Significantly improves pain caused by bunions and restores joint alignment for more natural, stable positioning of the big toe joint.
No external hardware (pins or wires) is needed – This means that there is no need for X-rays or CT scans during recovery.
The ability to regain full range of motion in just weeks, not months as with other bunion surgeries.
Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction addresses the root cause of your bunion problem, which means that this procedure can prevent your bunion from returning in the future, unlike other surgical procedures that only address the symptoms of the condition.
Eliminates the bump on the inside edge of the foot that causes pain when you wear shoes or walk barefoot without sacrificing your foot’s natural stability, mobility, or strength like other surgical procedures can do.
Long-Lasting Results – By correcting the misaligned bone at the root of the problem, patients can be assured that their results will last longer than those achieved with other procedures.
Superior Clinical Results – In clinical trials comparing the Lapiplasty Procedure to a standard 2D bunionectomy, surgeons rated the results as clinically superior following the Lapiplasty Procedure in three important areas: bone alignment, corrective stability, and surgical ease of use.
Key Points
Bunion surgery is a highly individualized procedure and treatment and recovery will vary from patient to patient. The recovery process can be uncomfortable but is necessary to achieve the best possible results. Most patients are able to walk immediately after surgery, though a surgical shoe or boot will be worn for several weeks. Swelling may occur and should be managed by elevating the foot and icing regularly. Pain medications will also be prescribed, as well as anti-inflammatories to help manage swelling and discomfort.
After several weeks in a surgical shoe or boot, most patients are able to transition into a supportive athletic shoe, though it is important that the foot is not subjected to high impact activity for several months following surgery. As the bone heals, it is important that weight not be placed on the area operated on until the bone has completed healing. Patients will be seen regularly during their recovery period with follow-up x-rays taken periodically to monitor bone healing. After 6 weeks, patients will begin physical therapy to rebuild strength in the foot and ankle and restore range of motion. Most patients return to work after 3-4 weeks if they do not require physical labor while some may need up to 12 weeks before they are able to return to work.