Hope for Houstonians Living with Bunions

For nearly 30 years, I have treated patients in the Houston community with a variety of foot and ankle ailments. One of the most common issues I see in my patients is a bone deformity called a bunion. Many people might be familiar with the word “bunion” and might have an image of what it looks like in their heads – typically a bump on the side of the foot. However, bunions are actually quite a complicated deformity that can result in a great deal of pain and disability. There also seems to be a stigma attached to the condition that can prevent people from talking about them and seeking treatment. As an active member of the Houston community, my goal is to help educate people about bunions and the impact they can have and encourage anyone suffering to seek treatment.

A bunion is a progressive bone deformity caused by an unstable joint in the middle of the foot that allows the big toes to drift out of alignment. This results in the big toe leaning, elevating, and rotating abnormally. Bunions tend to be more common in women, but men and teenagers can also develop them as they are a hereditary condition and often run in families. Women typically experience or complain of pain from their bunions more frequently than men due to the wearing of certain shoe styles such as those with a pointed toe area or high heels.

Many people who live without bunions are not aware of the pain they can cause both physically and emotionally. Overtime, bunions tend to worsen and cause increasing pain, discomfort and irritation. Many patients have to stop doing the activities they love like running, dancing or playing sports because the pain becomes too severe. Some patients even have trouble completing simple daily tasks like walking or grocery shopping. Many of my patients remark that they have had to change the types of shoes they wear to accommodate the deformity. The physical pain and resulting changes in lifestyle can be emotionally taxing for patients.

Despite the pain and disruptions by bunions, many people do not speak about the challenges they are facing due to embarrassment. It is often not until a patient is in excruciating pain that they finally meet with a physician to seek treatment. Like other podiatric specialists, I typically look to see if more conservative methods like wearing padding or using orthotics can help alleviate pain. However, as the condition progresses and pain worsens, surgery is often discussed as a next step.

The standard procedure used to treat bunions for many years was a 2D osteotomy that involved shaving down the protruding bone on the side of the big toe, cutting it and shifting the bones in the toe over. While this method does address the cosmetic bump, it fails to correct the actual root cause of the problem and can involve a long and painful recovery where patients might have to stay off their feet for up to eight weeks. Even after recovery, a large number of patients can see their bunions return. As a surgeon who also participates in research and works to train other podiatrists, I was lucky enough to be the first surgeon in The Woodlands, TX area to perform a groundbreaking procedure called Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™ that I now recommend to many of my patients.

Unlike traditional methods, the Lapiplasty® Procedure addresses the three-dimensional deformity that causes bunions by returning the bones in the foot to their correct alignment and securing them with a system of patented titanium plates. The method allows most patients to get back on their feet in a walking boot within days and my patients are often able to return to their usual lifestyles quickly. The procedure also brings a very low risk of the bunions returning.

Since introducing the Lapiplasty® Procedure into my practice, it has been extremely rewarding to see the positive impact it can have on patients lives. Some of my patients who once could barely walk are now returning to the activities they love, such as running long distances and playing sports. They are no longer embarrassed of how their feet look and can wear shoes that would have never been possible to wear while living with bunions. To everyone in the Houston community: if you or someone you know is living with bunions, know you are not alone and know there are treatment options available. Relief from bunion pain is just around the corner.

For more information about the Lapiplasty® Procedure visit www.Lapiplasty.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 improper bone healing.