New Procedure to Fix Bunions for Good

Posted on: August 24th, 2022 by Dr. Kelly J. John

We understand – bunions are not fun!

That’s why we don’t want to see anyone suffer from them repeatedly. Unfortunately, more than 50 percent of bunion patients in the U.S. end up returning to the doctor with the same problem just a few years later.

There’s a medical reason for that: bunions are caused by bone misalignment, and traditional surgery only partially fixes that.

Bunions form because of an unstable joint in the foot which causes the bone leading to the big toe to twist, lift and push out. Subsequently, regular activities such as walking can become painful, and the big toe can cause hammertoes as it pushes over or under its neighbors.

Traditional bunion surgery involves cutting part of the bone in the affected toe, which removes the appearance of the bunion. However, the unstable joint is not corrected, so it’s possible for that bone to slip out of position again.

A new surgical technique offered at OrthoIllinois fully addresses the underlying cause for bunions, so that the percentage of recurrence is much lower, only around three percent. OrthoIllinois Drs. Kelly John, William Bush, and Giovanni Incandela all have been trained in a new revolutionary technique called Lapiplasty ® by the very physicians who developed it. This 3-D procedure fixes the root cause of the problem, the unstable joint. With this outpatient surgery, the bone is restored to its natural alignment without cutting it. The procedure involves using an instrument to realign the bone, correct the rotation, remove the bump and straighten the big toe. Then, titanium plates are used to stabilize the joint so that the bone can no longer twist, lift, or push out.

Patients are able to walk and bear weight with a boot within days of surgery, retain a greater range of motion and most importantly, have a low risk of recurrence.

For patients suffering from painful bunions, we can help. Visit www.orthoillinois.com/foot-ankle/lapiplasty for more information or call (815- 398-9491 to schedule a consultation with a physician.