Lapiplasty Surgical Procedure

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 causing an internal deformity and leading to pain.

What is Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction?

Relief is here. Now, there's a new, patented treatment for bunion correction - Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction.  Dr. Menchin and Dr. Hurwitz at LEAP Foot and Ankle Specialists pllc are offering this exciting, new treatment option that 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 in Denver, Co , Lakewood, Co and surrounding communities to walk within days of surgery.

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. This is why many people who have had traditional surgery have had their bunions return. 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.

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.

How Does Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction Work?

Instead of cutting the bone in half and shifting the top part over, Dr. Menchin and Dr. Hurwitz use the patented Lapiplasty® Procedure's 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 technology permanently secures the unstable foundation, the root of your bunion problem. Most patients are able to walk within days of surgery. No cast is required; allowing patients to get back to the shoe wear of their choice and activities quickly.

‍What Should I Expect In Terms Of Recovery?

The patented titanium technology used with the Lapiplasty® Procedure enables patients to bear weight on their foot early. 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to recover from a Lapiplasty® Procedure?

Dr. Menchin and Dr. Hurwitz 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.

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.

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 Dr. Menchin and Dr. Hurwitz 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.

Is the Lapiplasty® Procedure right for me?

Make an appointment today with Dr. Menchin or Dr. Hurwitz to see if  Lapiplasty®  is right for you and what level of activity you can expect after healing is complete.  Same day appointments available.

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.

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