Bunions are complex, painful deformities. There are several things happening at the same time within the foot to create the telltale bony bump on the outside of the big toe.
The root of the problem lies in an unstable joint in the mid-foot which attaches to the long, 1st metatarsal bone. This unstable joint causes the metatarsal to lean sideways out of alignment as the big toe then points the other way (towards the other toes). Additionally, the 1st metatarsal elevates slightly and rotates out of alignment. All of these factors combine to create the 3D bunion deformity.
request an appointmentDifferences Between 2D & 3D Bunion Correction
Most bunion surgeries are 2D procedures which fall short of fixing this 3D deformity. These procedures focus more on treating the appearance of a bunion rather than fixing the underlying cause of the deformity. In 2D procedures, the bone rotation and elevation are not addressed and the joint is still unstable, which can lead to bunion recurrence and further complications.
Dr. Lerner offers his patients the exciting Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction procedure, which has revolutionized bunion treatment. Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction is a permanent solution which realigns the big toe and metatarsal bone on all planes, fixes the unstable joint and secures it, and allows the patient to walk within days.
Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction Advantages
In the Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction procedure, Dr. Lerner uses patented precision instrumentation to rotate and guide the metatarsal bone and big toe joint back to their natural positions. He straightens the toe, and the bony bump is gone. Dr. Lerner then strategically places petite titanium plates on the previously unstable joint to hold it securely in place—permanently. This innovative plating technology supports the joint on multiple planes while allowing patients to bear weight on it within days of surgery. With the aid of a surgical boot, many of Dr. Lerner’s patients are also able to get back to work within a couple of weeks and enjoy a return to most activities and normal footwear within months.
Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction is highly reproducible, which allows Dr. Lerner to be extremely precise with reliable results time after time. Dr. Lerner performs this procedure on both 1st time bunion patients as well as those who have had their bunion return after receiving unsuccessful 2D treatment elsewhere.
Check with Dr. Lerner to see if you might be a good candidate for Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction.