Hope for Rockford’s Bunion Patients: An Innovative Treatment Option

Are you part of the 25% of Americans that have noticed an abnormal bump on the side of your big toe? Maybe you’ve noticed that your parents, grandparents or other family members have them as well. You may have noticed that wearing high heels or narrow-fitting shoes isn’t an option any more or that yourfoot is throbbing by the end of your workout or after running errands.

Over the course of my 20+ year career as a podiatric specialist, I have had to explain to countless patients that this bump isn’t simply a callus or overgrowth of bone, but a complex bone deformity called a bunion. Luckily, there is now a treatment option that can correct the problem and let patients get back to their lifestyles.

Contrary to the widely held belief that only older women develop bunions, the condition often runs in families, meaning that anyone can develop them regardless of age or gender. The painful deformity is caused by an unstable joint in the mid-foot that allows the big toe to drift out of alignment and eventually invade space occupied by the other toes.

For some people, bunions are simply an unsightlybump but as the condition progresses it often causes worsening pain and irritation. Despite the disruption bunions can cause, many of my patients delay seeking treatment for them for several reasons. Some of them are simply embarrassed! They are ashamed of the appearance of their feet and might not realize that the bump is actually a medical problem. Others have heard stories from family and friends about difficult recovery experiences following traditional surgical treatments such as
2D osteotomy procedures. This approach is known for its long recovery process involving up to eight weeks of non-weightbearing. It is also associated with about a high risk that the bunion will recur after surgery. Many patients, especially those who live active lifestyles, don’t feel like they have time to undergo this type of procedure if there is such a high chance that the deformity will return anyway.

After years of trying to help frustrated patients, I began performing an innovative bunion correction procedure called Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™. This approach involves addressing the deformity by realigning the bones in the foot in their proper positions and securing them with a system of patented titanium plates. By correcting these bones, the bunion deformity is reduced, giving the foot a slimmer appearance. My patients are typically able to bear weight on their feet while wearing a walking boot within days after surgery. In most cases, they are cleared for physical activity within about 12 weeks. The procedure only carries about a 1-3% risk of bunion recurrence in 13- and 17-month studies, respectively.

As a physician, it frustrates and pains me to see people suffering—especially when an effective
treatment option is available to them. Lapiplasty® is the solution to problems that myself and other podiatrists have been looking for, for decades. My goal is to ensure that anyone whose life has been interrupted by bunion pain feel comfortable seeking care. There is no need to suffer from this condition in silence.

For more information about the Lapiplasty® Procedure visit www.Lapiplasty.com. To schedule an
appointment with me, call 815-398-9491 or visit www.OrthoIllinois.com.

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, pain, discomfort from the presence of the implant, loosening of the implant, and loss of correction with nonunion or malunion.