Stop the Stigma: An Innovative Treatment Option for Bunion Patients

As a founder of the Ohio Foot and Ankle Center and podiatric surgeon, I am passionate about offering my patients the most effective treatment options available. One of the most common ailments I have treated in my practice are bunions, which can be very painful and disruptive to a person’s life. The misconceptions surrounding the condition and embarrassment it can cause often result in patients avoiding treatment until their discomfort becomes unbearable. I am determined to build awareness of the seriousness of bunions and offer Cleveland-area patients hope by offering them a new innovative, safe and effective treatment option.

A bunion is a progressive bone deformity caused by an unstable joint in the middle of the foot that allows the big toe to drift out of alignment, causing it to lean, elevate and rotate. The pain caused by bunions can be severe and often gets worse over time. Many of my patients who once enjoyed active lifestyles eventually have trouble performing everyday tasks like walking their dog or going grocery shopping. In some cases, the discomfort can become so extreme that patients are unable to sleep with blankets touching their feet. Bunions are commonly seen in older women, but the deformity typically runs in families and anyone can develop them.

Approximately 25% of the US population suffers from bunions, yet many people are hesitant to seek treatment. Some of my patients have explained that they are embarrassed by the appearance of their feet, and others fear that people will not believe or understand the daily pain caused by the condition. Many patients have said that based on research and the experiences of friends and family members, traditional bunion removal methods discouraged them from seeking treatment due to concerns about the long recovery process and the risk of the deformity recurring.

For many years, the 2D osteotomy was the standard procedure used to treat bunions. This approach involves shaving down the protruding bone on the side of the big toe and shifting it over, improving the cosmetic appearance of the foot but failing to address the root cause of the deformity, the unstable joint in the foot. The procedure can involve a long recovery process where patients may be non-weight bearing for up to eight weeks. After recovering, up to 70% of patients who have had traditional bunionectomies can experience a recurrence of the condition. Unsatisfied by these results, I decided to undergo training for a relatively new treatment option Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™.

Unlike traditional surgical approaches, Lapiplasty® addresses all three dimensions of the bunion deformity by returning the bones in the foot to their positions and securing them with a system of patented titanium plates. This method allows most patients to get back on their feet in a walking boot within days of the procedure. In my experience, patients are generally able to return to their normal lifestyles and physical activities about 12 weeks after surgery. Since I began offering the procedure, many of my patients have experienced relatively comfortable recovery experiences with any pain managed by medication, regular icing and elevation. I have performed the Lapiplasty® Procedure on a wide range of patients and seeing their abilities to return to physical activities like running, biking and climbing without the pain that challenged them before continues to amaze me. The method has also shown a low rate of bunion recurrence with 97% and 99% of patients maintaining their 3D corrections in 13- and 17-month studies, respectively.

I hope that people who are suffering in silence from this condition know that there are solutions available that can help them live without the pain and irritation caused by bunions.

For more information about the Lapiplasty® Procedure visit www.Lapiplasty.com. To schedule an appointment with me, call 330-477-4400 or visit www.OhioFAC.com.

Only a surgeon can tell if Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™ is right for you. As with any medical treatment, individual results may vary and this experience is unique and specific to this patient only. There are potential risks with surgery and recovery takes time. Potential risks include, but are not limited to: infection, pain, discomfort from the presence of the implant, loosening of the implant, and loss of correction with improper bone healing.