A Queens NYC Podiatrist Explains Lapiplasty: Is it Right for You? (2024)

FAQs

A Queens NYC Podiatrist Explains Lapiplasty: Is it Right for You? ›

If you have tried orthotics, different shoes, and other treatments for bunions without results, Lapiplasty may be right for you. Pained feet, a swollen big toe that stiffens and becomes hard to flex, along with generally good bone health may make you the perfect candidate for Lapiplasty.

Cons of Lapiplasty Bunion Surgery

These include potential complications like arthritis and avascular necrosis, and nerve damage which may cause limited or uncomfortable sensations in the feet. Some patients may still experience ongoing pain and swelling despite the surgery.

Lapiplasty and PROstep are the sophisticated bunion removal procedures our podiatrists perform. Here's when you can expect from each of these surgeries.

What are the results of Lapiplasty? Success of Lapiplasty has shown potential to far exceed the results of traditional bunion surgery. Published research shows a 97.3% success rate with Lapiplasty.

Patients under the age of 12 do not qualify for the procedure. Patients between the ages of 12-21 years of age will not qualify if the procedure is estimated to damage any open growth plates.

Corrects all three deformities: Since lapiplasty corrects all three shifts in the metatarsal bone that lead to bunions, it is much more effective at treating them than osteotomy or any nonsurgical bunion treatment. This way, lapiplasty restores your foot and the big toe to their normal alignment.

Is the Lapiplasty^® Procedure covered by insurance? Good news! Insurance and Medicare typically cover bunionectomy and joint fusion procedures that utilize the Lapiplasty^® System when the procedures are medically necessary.

Will I Be Able to Bend My Big Toe after Lapiplasty? Yes, you will still have normal movement of your big toe after this surgery at Bone & Joint Specialists. The fusion in this procedure takes place at the metatarsophalangeal joint. This is deemed to be more of a “non-essential” joint.

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.

Following a Lapiplasty bunion surgery, which involves removing a bone lump and straightening the big toe joint, expect initial pain and swelling. Over six weeks, these symptoms will diminish, but minor discomfort may persist for up to a year.

Is the bone cut in Lapiplasty? ›

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.

Lapiplasty has been called a “paradigm shift ” in bunion correction surgery. The surgeon no longer has to cut freehand. A patented instrument holds the metatarsal bone in correct position in all three dimensions at the same time before the surgeon makes any cuts.

ROBERT SANTROCK, MD: Most typically the Lapiplasty^® surgery is done as an outpatient, meaning you can go home the same day. Our typical patient would undergo a nerve block, which is a type of anesthesia that numbs you from about the knee down.

Prolonged swelling, infection, and deep vein thrombosis can result from this treatment. Some of the other possible complications include over- or under-correction, loss of correction, joint stiffness, and nerve entrapment.

There's no cut-and-dry rule regarding an age limit for bunion surgery. Seniors can visit a podiatrist serving the Sugar Land area to find out if the procedure might be right for them.

3D Bunion Correction is an outpatient procedure which typically takes between an hour and an hour and a half.

Lapiplasty definitely makes the appearance of a bunion much better. After the joint has been corrected, titanium plates are installed to ensure that the joint does not deviate again. Likewise, the fixation placement and materials allow for weight-bearing within a week of surgery.

A typical recovery timeline for the Lapiplasty^® Procedure is as follows: At 2 weeks begin to put some weight on your foot. Next 4-6 weeks walk in a boot and return to light activities. At 6-8 weeks transition back into comfortable shoes.

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.