Lapiplasty®: Helping Patients With Bunions
By
Guiding Patients Every Step of the Way to Enjoy a Bunion-Free Life
Written By: Hiram Carrasquillo, MD
After completing my residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Puerto Rico and a fellowship in foot and ankle surgery at The Center for Orthopaedic Care in Cincinnati, Ohio, I became a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. Currently, I specialize in foot surgeries and sports medicine at the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute and served as a team physician for the Jacksonville Jaguars. For the past 30 years, I’ve treated many patients with a wide variety of foot problems but one of the most common and painful conditions my patients experience is bunions.
Bunions are a complex bone deformity caused by multiple factors leading to an unstable joint in the foot that allows the big toe to drift out of alignment[1]. This forms a bump on the side of the big toe that can progress in severity over time leading to more pain and discomfort for the patient[2]. Many of my athletic patients are forced to limit or stop physical activities because of their bunion symptoms, while other patients struggle to simply go about their daily lives because of the discomfort[3],[4], and/or inability to wear certain shoes.
Physician Holding an X-Ray of a Bunion
While there are nonsurgical approaches for managing pain and discomfort associated with bunions including shoe modifications, the only way to correct the condition is with surgery. In the past, one of the most common procedures for correcting bunions was traditional 2D osteotomy surgery. While this option addresses the cosmetic aspect of the bunion, it doesn’t correct the deformity’s underlying cause. Additionally, patients who undergo this procedure are often non-weight-bearing for six to ten weeks, which can interfere with other aspects of their lives[5],[6].
Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction®
Cleared in 2016, Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction® offers patients a different approach to bunion correction that has several advantages. The recovery process can be relatively manageable when compared to the discomfort of living with bunions—many patients are able to place weight on their affected foot while wearing a surgical boot soon after the procedure and most can return to physical activities in around four months[7],[8] The Lapiplasty® 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[1], ,[2]. In addition to addressing the cosmetic bump on the side of the big toe, the procedure also offers patients a low risk of bunion recurrence, with clinical trials showing a recurrence rate of only about 1-3% in 13- and 17-month clinical trials, respectively[3],[4].
Person Recovering after a Lapiplasty®
My philosophy as an orthopedic surgeon is to get to know my patients so that we can work together to form a partnership to obtain the best possible outcome. The Lapiplasty® Procedure allows me to guide my patients each step of the way to get back to doing what they love. This year, one of my patients is competing in an ultramarathon after being unable to compete for the past few years because of bunion pain. Going forward, I hope to help more patients in the Jacksonville area get back on their feet and pursue their passions in the years to come.
For more information about the Lapiplasty® Procedure™, visit www.lapiplasty.com.
Lapiplasty® is a surgical procedure. Only a surgeon can tell if Lapiplasty® procedure is right for you. This experience is unique and specific to this patient only. Individual results may vary depending on age, weight, health, and other variables. There are risks and recovery takes time. For more information about recovery from the Lapiplasty® Procedure, see the recovery information and discuss the post-surgery recovery process with your doctor. Risks include infection, pain, implant loosening and loss of correction with improper bone healing. For more information on benefits, risks and recovery, visit Lapiplasty.com.
Related Articles:
Book an Appointment with The Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute Today!
JOI Physicians continue to offer online new patient appointments. This is another option to make it more convenient to make new patient appointments with less phone hold times. Follow the link below to select your JOI MD and schedule online.
You can still call 904-JOI-2000 to make new patient JOI Physician Appointments if that is your preference.
To make appointments with JOI Rehab, please call 904-858-7045.
References:
[1]American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) Website ©2023. [2]American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) Website ©2023. [3]American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) Website ©2023. [4]WebMD Website ©2023. [5] Catanzariti AR, et al. J Foot Ankle Surgery, 38:325-32. [6] Park CH, Ahn JY, Kim YM, Lee WC. Int Orthop. 2013 Jun;37(6):1085-92. [7] Ray J, et al. Foot Ankle Int. 2019 Aug;40(8):955-960. [8] Dayton P, et al. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2019. 58:427-433. [9] Tanaka Y, et al. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1995. 77:205-13. [10] Dayton P, et al. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2018. 57:766-770. [11]Ray J, et al. Foot Ankle Int. 2019 Aug;40(8):955-960. [12] Dayton P, et al. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2020, 59(2): 291-297.