Is Lapiplasty Better Than Traditional Bunion Surgery?
The Lapiplasty operation is a good procedure that has gained in popularity in recent years. I receive a number of questions in my Baton Rouge podiatry practice about this operation and who is the right candidate for the procedure.
What is a bunion?
A bunion deformity (medically termed hallux valgus) is one of the most common foot conditions that I treat in my Baton Rouge podiatry practice. A bump or bony prominence at or near the big toe joint is usually the first signs of a bunion. Bunions typically develop gradually over many years, but occasionally I have patients who experience significant worsening over a short period of time. Certain shoes and activities can aggravate a bunion causing more irritation or discomfort.
Do non-surgical treatments work for bunions?
There are several over-the-counter pads, cushions and splints for bunions. Some patients do get relief from silicone toe spacers and other in-shoe cushions. A problem can arise if the pad or cushion is bulky and takes up too much space in a shoe. Bunion night splints also offer some symptomatic relief. Unfortunately, these measures do not typically straighten the toe. Because these options are relatively easy to try, they should be attempted prior to considering surgery.
Other non-operative bunion treatments include periodic icing of the painful area, wider or softer toed shoes and modifying painful activities. Medications and corticosteroid injection can also be beneficial.
When do I need to have bunion surgery?
Bunion surgery is one of the most common and gratifying operations that I perform annually in my Baton Rouge podiatry practice. Satisfaction rates are very high, and the recovery is usually uneventful. Many patients following bunion surgery can resume normal activities and shoe gear after a successful operation. A key to this success is deciding the correct time to have bunion surgery.
I tell patients daily, that you don’t perform bunion surgery because of the size of the bunion but because of the symptoms. Painful bunion symptoms can include redness and swelling, sharp pain and aching, having to modify daily and recreational activities and having difficulty finding comfortable, enclosed shoes.
Another consideration with bunion surgery is the patient’s home and work environment. Patients with a desk job have an easier time recovering and sometime require less time off work with recovery. Patients who live on the second floor of a home or apartment and patients who live alone sometimes need to make special arrangements during bunion surgery recovery.
Lapiplasty vs Traditional Bunion Surgery
The Lapiplasty procedure is a good operation that has gained in popularity in recent years. This operation involves special instrumentation including plates and screws to help make certain aspects of bunion surgery more predictable and to make aspects of the recovery easier on patients. For me personally I still prefer the traditional Austin bunionectomy for most of my patients. The Austin bunionectomy works very well for mild to moderate sized bunion deformities. The recovery allows early weightbearing and the procedure is less invasive. It is also less expensive, which is important to consider today with health care costs rising.
The real benefit of Lapiplasty, to me, is for severe sized bunion deformities where the Austin procedure doesn’t work as well. The Lapiplasty can make the correction of severe sized bunions more stable and predictable but is not necessary for most bunion deformities. In some instances, this operation can allow patients with severe sized bunions to weight bear earlier than with other similar procedures.
The important thing to realize with bunion surgery is that no single procedure is perfect for everyone. A detailed physical examination, a set of weight-bearing X-rays and consideration of a patient’s lifestyle, activity level and functional goals all need to be considered when deciding the best bunion surgery for each individual.
If you are having bunion pain and have questions about the best operation for you, then please schedule an appointment for an initial consultation.
