Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction® & Adductoplasty®

At Bluestone Podiatry, board-certified podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon Kurt Relation, DPM, proudly offers Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction® to his patients. Lapiplasty® is a surgical procedure that allows the surgeon to perform a more complete and long lasting bunion correction which may help to relieve bunion pain, so you can return to your favorite activities sooner.

Dr. Relation offers multiple types of Lapiplasty® procedures including traditional Lapiplasty®, Mini-incision™ Lapiplasty®, Micro-Lapiplasty®, and Adductoplasty®. Dr. Relation is an expert in determining the correct procedure for you.

Call Bluestone Podiatry today to schedule a Lapiplasty® consultation, or book your visit online. 

How is Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction® different from traditional bunion surgery?

Lapiplasty® and traditional bunion surgery both aim to relieve bunion pain and restore the alignment of the bones at the front of your foot, but they do it in different ways:

Traditional bunion surgery: This procedure uses surgical tools to shave the bunion or to cut and reposition the bone, restoring your big toe joint to its near-original size. It’s effective in that it relieves pain, but it doesn’t address the underlying cause of the bunion.

VS

Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction®: Lapiplasty® gets to the root of the problem by realigning the bones and joints at into their more natural and stable position. More specifically, it involves surgical tools that stabilize your big toe joint and keep it in position so the bunion is much less likely to return. With innovations such as Micro-Lapiplasty, the procedure can be done through an incision as small as 2 centimeters. Learn more about this procedure

Who is a candidate for Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction®?

Consider Lapiplasty® if you have a bunion that causes persistent pain and affects your mobility. That’s particularly true if you’ve tried conservative treatments, like ice, custom orthotics, and support shoes, but your symptoms continue.

To get Lapiplasty® surgery, you must be in good overall health. Let Dr. Relation know if you have underlying medical issues, like diabetes or heart disease. These conditions won’t necessarily prevent you from undergoing Lapiplasty® but can increase your risk of complications. 

What if I already had bunion surgery, but the bunion came back?

Dr. Relation will be able to complete a full clinical and radiographic evaluation of your condition to determine if you are a candidate for revisional surgery with Lapiplasty®, or if another type of surgical intervention would be best based on your specific case.

What does Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction® involve?

Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction® is an outpatient surgery that typically takes 60-90 minutes.

On the day of your procedure, you change into a gown and lie on your back on an operating table. An anesthesiologist will administer anesthesia, causing you to fall asleep. A nerve block is typically used to minimize post operative pain.

After the anesthesia sets in, Dr. Relation makes several small incisions near the base of your big toe. Then, he uses small surgical instruments to cut and reposition the toe joint so it’s in the proper position, and inserts titanium hardware such as plates and screws to hold it the bones and joints in proper alignment.

Once your big toe is aligned, Dr. Relation removes the tools and closes the incisions, applies a post operative dressing and splint.

What is recovery like after Lapiplasty®?

After Lapiplasty® with Dr. Relation, you are typically in a splint and use crutches for the first 2-5 days. After this, he will re-evaluate you in the office, take post operative x-rays and change the bandages. At this time you will typically go into a surgical walking boot for the next 6-8 weeks. During that time, it’s normal to experience mild swelling, bruising, and pain. Most patient's are back into a sneaker at 6-8 weeks post op, with return to high impact activity by 4 months. Follow Dr. Relation’s recovery instructions. Take any medication as prescribed and attend physical therapy if ordered. 

What is Adductoplasty®?

Adductoplasty® is a procedure that addresses a condition called metatarsus adductus (MTA). MTA is a common foot deformity, occurring in up to 30% of bunion patients, that causes the front half of the foot to turn inwards. Therefore in order to fully correct a bunion in a foot with MTA, Dr. Relation may have to reposition the second and third metatarsal bones as well as the first to ensure complete reduction of the deformity. If the metatarsus adductus is not addressed at the time of the initial bunion correction, there can be up to a 30% recurrence rate of the bunion deformity.  

Call Bluestone Podiatry today to schedule a Lapiplasty® or Adductoplasty® consultation, or book your visit online.