Lapiplasty: Learn All About This New, Breakthrough Bunion Surgery | City Podiatry (2024)

FAQs

Lapiplasty: Learn All About This New, Breakthrough Bunion Surgery | City Podiatry? ›

Lapiplasty® is a new procedure using patented technology to correct not only the bunion, but its root cause. It straightens three dimensions of alignment of the metatarsal bone. First, it corrects the sideways lean of your metatarsal bone.

Despite the numerous benefits of Lapiplasty, considering its potential downsides is also essential. These include potential complications like arthritis and avascular necrosis, and nerve damage which may cause limited or uncomfortable sensations in the feet.

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.

Bunion correction surgery typically costs about $6,000 or more per foot. Many health insurance plans will cover all or part of the costs of bunion correction surgery. Not all bunions require surgery.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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%.

How long are you off your feet with Lapiplasty? ›

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.

Most patients return to walking shoes between 6-7 weeks after the surgery, low impact activity around 3 to 3 1/2 months, and back to all activity and exercise around 4 months. It is important to note, however, that everyone's recovery is different.

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.

Often stationary biking, casual walking, and rowing will be allowed before 12 weeks at physician's discretion. As you slowly return to impact exercise this will be a slow process, and full activity will return at 4 months(16 weeks) after surgery. Full recovery will be 6 months to a year.

If left untreated, a bunion can cause arthritis, especially if the joint in the big toe has sustained extensive, long-term damage.

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.

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.

Because part of the Lapiplasty definition is its minimally invasive detail, the recovery time is less severe than other surgery options for bunions. After a Lapiplasty, you may have to wear a cast on the foot, as well as be careful to not put any weight on the affected area.