The Lapiplasty® Procedure: Addressing Bunions One Foot at a Time

During my 30 years of experience as a fellowship-trained orthopedic foot & ankle surgeon, I have treated a wide variety of foot injuries. While there are plenty of musculoskeletal related problems that plague my patients, one of the most common and disruptive are bunions. They are progressive and painful bone deformities that impact almost 25% of American adults[1]. There is a common misconception that bunions are simply overgrowths of bone on the side of the big toe, but the problem is far more complex. They are deformities caused by unstable bones sliding out of alignment near the top of the foot. This instability allows the big toe to drift out of place.

There are many nonsurgical methods for managing the pain and discomfort associated with bunions such as shoe inserts, splints, and pads. These non-invasive methods may provide temporary relief, but the only way to correct the root cause of the condition is with surgery[2]. Traditional surgical approaches involve shaving down the protruding bone on the side of the toe and shifting the remaining bones over in what is called a 2D osteotomy procedure. While this surgical option addresses the cosmetic aspect of the bunion deformity, patients are often required to remain off their foot for six to eight weeks, which can be burdensome for most patients[3]. The 2D osteotomy procedure also does not correct the underlying cause of bunion deformities.

The Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction® procedure enables orthopedic surgeons and podiatric specialists across the country to offer their patients a different approach to bunion correction that offers several advantages. This procedure is designed to address the root cause of bunions in all three dimensions by properly aligning and securing the bones in the foot using a system of patented titanium plates[4],[5]. Lapiplasty® is proven to correct the cosmetic bump of the big toe and offer the average patient a relatively quick recovery – many patients can place weight on their affected foot while wearing a surgical boot within 3-10 days after the procedure and most can return to physical activities after about four months[6],[7]. Patients who have undergone Lapiplasty® have also seen a very low risk of bunion recurrence, with clinical trials showing a recurrence rate of only about .9-3.2% in 13- and 17- month clinical trials, respectively[8],[9].

It has been rewarding to see the impact the Lapiplasty® Procedure has had on my patients who once suffered from complications caused by bunions. Whether it’s returning to their biking routines or walking five blocks to the office, patients affected by bunions deserve relief. The Lapiplasty® Procedure provides many patients living with bunion pain the opportunity to return to the lifestyles they enjoy, and I look forward to helping many more patients in the Palouse community in the years ahead.

To schedule an appointment with me, call (509) 397-4717 or visit www.WHMC.org.

Lapiplasty® is a surgical procedure. There are risks associated with surgery. Potential risks include infection, pain, implant loosening and loss of correction with improper bone healing. As with any medical treatment, individual results may vary and recovery takes time. For more information on benefits, risks and recovery, visit Lapiplasty.com.

[1] Nix S, et al. J Foot Ankle Res. 2010. 27:3:21.

[2] American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) Website ©2023.

[3] Catanzariti AR, et al. J Foot Ankle Surgery, 38:325-32.

[4] Dayton P, et al. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2016. 55:567-71.

[5] Dayton P, et al. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2018. 57:766-770.

[6] Ray J, et al. Foot Ankle Int. 2019 Aug;40(8):955-960.

[7] Dayton P, et al. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2019. 58:427-433.

[8] Dayton P, et al. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2020, 59(2): 291-297.

[9] Ray J, et al. Foot Ankle Int. 2019 Aug;40(8):955-960.