Fix the Root Cause. Get Back On Your Feet Quickly.1 Learn More About 3D Bunion Correction™
Are Bunions Limiting Your Activities and Lifestyle?
Bunions can be very painful. With each step, your entire body weight rests on that bunion. Ouch! A common misconception about a bunion is that it is an overgrowth of bone that can simply be “shaved off”. In reality, bunions are complex deformities caused by an unstable joint.
Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction
Relief is here. Now, there’s a new, patented treatment for bunion correction – Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction. Coastal Maine Foot and Ankle is offering this exciting, new treatment option which does more than simply remove “the bump”; it addresses your bunion in three dimensions to correct the root of the problem. Advanced fixation technology is used to secure the correction in place, allowing patients to walk within days of surgery.1
Why Was Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction Developed?
For 87% of people with bunions, traditional surgery has failed to get to the true source of the problem – a 3-dimensional deformity caused by an unstable joint.2 This is why many people who have had traditional surgery have had their bunions return.3 In fact, 1 in 3 patients have been left dissatisfied with their surgical outcome in the past and up to 70% of those treated have had their bunion return.4
Traditional Approaches To Bunion Correction Have Been Ineffective
Traditional Surgery Is A 2D Solution For A 3D Problem
Traditional bunion surgery has been limited to an incomplete, two-dimensional (2D) approach to correction; cutting the bone in half and pushing the top part over to reduce the appearance of the bump. This 2D “cut and shift” approach primarily addresses the bunion’s symptoms, not the root cause – the unstable foundational joint – leaving the bunion significantly more likely to come back to some degree.3
Traditional 2D Surgery
Like trying to fix The Leaning Tower of Pisa by cutting it and shifting it.
How Does Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™ Work?
Instead of cutting the bone in half and shifting the top part over, the patented Lapiplasty® Procedure uses specially-designed instrumentation to rotate the entire deviated bone back into its normal anatomical position, naturally straightening your toe; removing the “bump” and associated pain. Innovative titanium plating technology5,6 permanently secures the unstable foundation, the root of your bunion problem. Most patients are able to walk within days of surgery.1 No cast is required; allowing patients to get back to the shoe wear of their choice and activities quickly.1
Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™
Like addressing the unstable foundation (root cause) of The Leaning Tower of Pisa by rotating it back into position and permanently securing it.
What Does A Correction Look Like On X-Ray?
Normal Foot
Traditional 2D Surgery
“Cut & Shift” approach leaves an unstable joint
Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™
Alignment is restored & unstable joint is permanently secured
Lapiplasty® Patented Titanium Plating Technology — Enabling Early Weight Bearing
The Lapiplasty® Procedure utilizes two low-profile (petite), anatomically-shaped titanium plates to permanently secure the unstable foundation of your corrected bunion. This provides buttressing on multiple planes and allows you to walk within days of surgery.1 Think of this in terms of how a basketball player might hold a basketball. When a player tightly grips the ball with both hands, the ball is held more securely than if only one hand is used.
Unlike other surgical approaches, the Lapiplasty® Procedure utilizes two plates for this very reason – “Two plates are better than one”.7
What Should I Expect In Terms Of Recovery?
The patented titanium plating technology used with the Lapiplasty® Procedure enables patients to bear weight on their foot early.1 The ability to do so can dramatically improve your recovery process, allowing you to walk up to 6-8 weeks earlier than with the more traditional Lapidus approach (which was previously the only option for addressing the unstable joint).
Being able to walk in a surgical boot, as opposed to being completely non-weight bearing (in a cast with scooter or crutches) for 6-8 weeks, means that you will be getting back to a better quality of life faster; may return to most occupations more quickly; and will be less inconvenienced by bunion surgery.8
Recovery Comparison: Expectations
Hear What Patients Are Saying About Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction
Below are quotes from actual Lapiplasty® patients. As with any medical treatment, individual results may vary.
These results are specific to these individuals only.
Tiffany
from West Virginia
“I have had two surgeries. This time was so much easier than the first time. I had very little pain and I could walk almost right away!”
Amanda
from Illinois
“My sister and I both had bunion surgery at the same time, but she can’t understand why I can wear my heels with no problem and how I recovered so fast.”
Carrie
from Colorado
“My husband and I both felt my foot looked so much better after my Lapiplasty® surgery. Much better than expected.”
Patrica
from Maine
Juggling five grandchildren and five additional great-grandchildren does not leave 68-year old Scarborough, Maine resident Patricia with a lot of downtime. “We are a close family and are constantly on the move,” she said. “But bunion pain experienced in both my feet certainly slowed me down. And, it was frustrating to not be able to keep up as much as I would have liked.” Patricia tried wearing more comfortable shoes, orthotic inserts, and (in some cases) a protective boot just so that she could keep up with the demands of her large and still growing family. Even so, she regularly struggled to rise from a seated position and could no longer enjoy family outings around town without suffering. Unable to stand to see her in such pain, Patricia’s loved ones eventually convinced her to talk to a doctor about her surgical options.
While Patricia suffered with bunion pain in both feet, her left foot was more bothersome. She met with specialist Dr. Barry White with Portland Foot and Ankle and decided to undergo a traditional bunion surgery only on that foot. “I remember the recovery took about three months and it was very difficult to get around using a scooter,” said Patricia. “The worst part was, as soon as I started feeling better with the left foot, my right foot started bothering me even more!” Although she did not want to go through another painful surgery and lengthy recovery, Patricia knew something needed to be done.
Dr. White understood Patricia’s concerns regarding a lengthy recovery and explained that he had recently learned of a new treatment option that might give her a better experience. Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™ was a procedure he now used to address the true root cause of bunions, but more importantly, it was designed to provide a faster recovery timeline than the previous surgical technique. In addition to a faster recovery, the Lapiplasty® Procedure also offers a three-dimensional approach to bunion correction by rotating the misaligned bone back into proper alignment, unlike older-generation 2D surgical treatments that merely shave down protruding bone. “I was sold as soon as he said that this procedure may allow me to get back on my feet faster,” Patricia said. “It had been frustrating previously to be forced to sit and watch my grandkids and not be able to interact with them. I hoped this option would give me a faster recovery timeline than my previous surgery.”
Patricia had the Lapiplasty® Procedure on her right foot in October 2018 and was walking in a boot less than two weeks later. This was a far different experience from her first surgery, where she had been confined to a cast for several months. “I was very happy that the recovery time seemed shorter. I tried to take it easy the first few weeks and after using the boot was able to transition to just a brace.” In addition to a shorter recovery, Patricia says she was able to stop taking prescription pain medication three days after surgery and managed her discomfort with a simple dose of Advil® each night.
Before surgery, Patricia says she was getting through life with gritted teeth— working through the pain instead of truly addressing it. Now, with summer coming, she looks forward to keeping up with her entire family and once again enjoying long walks along the coastal Maine beaches.
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, discomfort from the presence of the implant, loosening of the implant, and loss of correction with nonunion or malunion.”
Advil® is a registered mark of Pfizer.
Francine
Francine constantly spends long hours on her feet. In between her work as a patient service representative at a pain clinic and a licensed phlebotomist, as well as, taking care of her many pets including two horses, two donkeys, three dogs and 12 chickens; she rarely finds time to relax. “I am constantly on the move,” said Francine, a 57-year-old Maine resident. “So, when the bunion on my left foot first started protruding, I simply ignored it. I felt like I did not have any other choice.” Francine bought wide shoes and special socks to separate her toes to try to ease the pain, but they provided limited comfort. Over the course of several years the pain worsened significantly and eventually became unbearable. That is when Francine decided to see a specialist to discuss her surgical options.
She was referred to Dr. Barry White from Portland Foot and Ankle who said that her bunion was one of the most severe cases he had ever seen. He recommended a new procedure that could restore Francine’s natural anatomy and potentially prevent her bunion from recurring. “I had lived in pain for so long that I liked the idea of a procedure that would give me comfort that I might never have to through this kind of agony again,” she said.
The Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™ Procedure would address the underlying cause of Francine’s bunion by restoring her bone’s natural alignment then permanently securing the unstable joint in the foot that is the root of the problem. The Lapiplasty® Procedure could also potentially result in a faster recovery compared to traditional surgical methods, allowing Francine to get back to her work and animals quickly. Deciding that the proposed benefits of Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™ made for an attractive treatment option, Francine booked her surgery for September 2018.
Following the procedure, she was able to return home immediately. “It hurt at first, there is no doubt. But, within about three days, I no longer felt like I needed to take any prescription pain medication. I just tried to stay off my foot and rest.” She added, “Being an extremely active person, any down time for me at all is a shock to the system physically and emotionally. Thankfully, my husband was there every step of the way and within a few weeks I was up and walking again.”
Francine is now back to her normal activities and likes to tell people how the procedure helped her. She also is extremely thankful to Dr. White for offering this treatment option and has since referred several of her friends who suffer from bunions to his office. “He was always upfront and honest with me every step of the way. I trusted his recommendation on Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™, and he was right,” she explained. “While recovery from any surgery might be difficult for a moment, it is always better than living a life in constant pain.”
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, discomfort from the presence of the implant, loosening of the implant, and loss of correction with nonunion or malunion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some questions patients commonly ask and their respective answers:
How long does it take to recover from a Lapiplasty® Procedure?
Patients are typically walking within days of surgery. Patients can return to most occupations within days to a couple of weeks, wearing a surgical boot. Within six weeks, you can expect to be walking in comfortable shoes such as tennis shoes, however you should not plan on any high-impact activities for 3-4 months. Short shopping trips and leisurely strolls are examples of the types of activities that should be fine at this point. Around the 4-month mark post-op, you should be able to return to most activities and most shoe wear.9
Can I wear fashionable shoes again?
The Lapiplasty® Procedure allows most patients to return to their desired shoes. Of course, some fashionable shoes can be painful (even with a normal foot!), so results can vary from person to person and shoe to shoe.
Can I play sports after the Lapiplasty® Procedure?
Yes, there are no permanent activity limitations after the Lapiplasty® Procedure. Most patients are able to return to most activities after the bones have completely healed at approximately 4 months.9
Can the Lapiplasty® Procedure be performed on someone who has previously had traditional surgery?
Yes, the Lapiplasty® Procedure is an option that can be utilized by your doctor when a revision is required. Even if previously treated, patients can experience the same benefits from Lapiplasty®– with a permanently secured foundational joint this time around.
I’ve heard the term “reproducible” used when describing the Lapiplasty® Procedure. What does that mean?
“Reproducible” means that a procedure is easily repeatable with expected results. The Lapiplasty® Procedure utilizes precision, patented instrumentation designed to take the guesswork and “eyeballing” out of bunion surgery; helping ensure your surgeon can get reliable results over and over.
Can the Lapiplasty® Procedure be performed as an outpatient procedure & how long does it last?
Yes, Lapiplasty®surgeries are performed as outpatient procedures. Typically, the surgery will last just under an hour. If your doctor is performing any additional procedures at the same time, the surgery may take longer.
References
- Smith B, Santrock R, Dayton P, Hatch D. Immediate Weight Bearing after Biplanar Plantar Fixation of Lapidus: A Multi-Centered Study. 2017 AOFAS Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA.
- Kim Y, Kim JS, Young KW, et al. Foot Ankle Int. 2015. 36:944-52.
- Okuda R, Kinoshita M, Yasuda T, et al. JBJS. 2007. 89:2163-72.
- Jeuken RM, et al. Foot Ankle Int. 2016. 37:687-95.
- Dayton P, Ferguson J, Hatch D, Santrock R, Scanlan S, Smith B. 2016. Comparison of the Mechanical Characteristics of a Universal Small Biplane Plating Technique Without Compression Screw and Single Anatomic Plate With Compression Screw. J Foot Ankle Surg. 55:567-71.
- Dayton P, Ferguson J, Hatch D, Santrock R, Scanlan S, Smith B. Biplanar Plating with an Anatomic Tension-Side Plate for Lapidus Fusion: Improved Biomechanical Properties. Accepted for presentation at 2017 AOFAS Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA. Submitted for publication.
- Dayton P, Ferguson J, Hatch D, et al.. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2016. 55:567-71.
- Catanzariti, AR, et al. Jrnl Foot Ankle Surgery, 38:325-32.
- MacMahon, A, et al. Foot Ankle Int. 2016. 37: 378-85.
Looking for more in-depth information on Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™?
