If you suffer from bunions, you are familiar with the pain and swelling associated with the unsightly bump on the side of your big toe. It seems like with each step, your body weight on your foot can cause more pain or numbness. This condition may worsen if you stand or wear tight shoes, making the situation almost unbearable for those who have a job that requires them to be on their feet.
Bunions are a progressive condition that will only get worse unless they are treated properly. The pain may be manageable in the beginning, but may be aggravated by crowding of the toes or standing for long periods of time. It’s important to correct your bunions as soon as you can to avoid the progressive pain and discomfort they may cause.
A bunion is identified as a “bump” on the side of your big toe that is actually caused by an unstable joint in the middle of the foot. The instability of the joint allows the toe to become misaligned.
Contrary to popular belief, bunions are not caused by wearing high heels but may be aggravated by wearing them if you are predisposed to the condition. Bunions are likely caused either by a genetic disposition or biomechanical imbalance. In other words, you either inherited the misaligned joint defect in your foot, or the bunion was caused by a major change in weight or structure of your foot, such as during pregnancy.
In traditional “2D” osteotomy surgery, the protruding bone is cut and shifted, but the only real change is cosmetic. This type of surgery does not treat the root of the problem, which is the misaligned joint in the middle of the foot, not the protruding toe.
LAPIPLASTY® is a newly patented procedure that can permanently correct the bunion through titanium technology. In this procedure, there is no need to cut and shift the bone, but the joint is rotated and shifted back into position and the unstable foundation is permanently secured. With LAPIPLASTY®, bunions are less likely to return compared to traditional surgery that has a high rate of recurrence. After a LAPIPLASTY® procedure, the patient should be able to wear comfortable shoes within six to eight weeks and resume most activities and all normal footwear in four to six months. LAPIPLASTY® is a new type of treatment for bunions that is highly successful. If you suffer from bunions and want to learn more about how this procedure can help correct your condition for good, contact our office at (305) 442-1780.
