Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™ | Outpatient Bunion Surgery (2024)

FAQs

How successful is Lapiplasty bunion surgery? ›

Lapiplasty is a new type of bunion surgery that offers a near-0% chance of bunion recurrence for severe bunion deformities. This technique uses advanced instruments to naturally and permanently correct the bony protrusion and straighten the big toe.

Since bunions are a 3-dimensional deformity a procedure that corrects all 3 dimensions is required. Osteotomies only correct 2 of the 3 dimensions. Lapiplasty surgery failures are reduced to only 3-5% according to current studies. Lapiplasty recovery time is also shorter!

Lapiplasty offers a promising surgical treatment option. It involves a less invasive procedure, fewer complications, and a quicker recovery than traditional bunion surgery. It also addresses bunions at their root cause.

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.

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.

Suykerbuyk performs the Lapiplasty 3D Bunionectomy, which addresses the bunion at the unstable joint, preventing the bunion from returning in the future. With this technique, the recurrence rate for a bunion goes down to less than 4%.

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.

You are not a candidate for the Lapiplasty^® Procedure if the following applies: Pediatric patient aged less than 12 years of age. Adolescent patients aged between 12-21 years of age where the implant will cross open growth plates in skeletally immature patients.

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.

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.

Does insurance cover Lapiplasty? ›

Is Lapiplasty covered by Insurance? Lapiplasty surgery is for a true orthopaedic condition and is most frequently covered by most commercial and government insurances. Each insurance plan is different, and cost may be subject to deductible, coinsurance, and maximum out of pocket.

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.

Unlike traditional bunion surgery, where the bone is cut and shifted over, the Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction procedure uses instruments that have been specifically designed to rotate the bone back to its normal position. This naturally straightens the toe, removes the bump, and provides pain relief.

Arthrodesis: Sometimes, arthritis inflammation can lead to bunions. In arthrodesis joint fusion, your surgeon removes any parts of the big toe joint that have arthritis. Your surgeon then places screws in the toe to hold the bones together while they heal. This surgery is only done with the most severe of bunions.

Is physical therapy generally recommended after the Lapiplasty^® Procedure? Dr. Jason Miller, DPM: I would say that physical therapy is performed in about 75% of my patients that have the Lapiplasty^® procedure.

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.

MINDI DAYTON, DPM: Our patients are able to start walking within 3-10 days after surgery, and get back into a shoe around six weeks which obviously has a profound impact on their quality of life and overall outcome.

Most patients are able to start walking, in a boot, on day 3 after surgery. The boot is worn for at least 6 weeks.