If you’ve already attempted conservative treatment measures (bunion corrector, inserts, toe spacers, shoes, etc) to try to get rid of your bunion pain, and nothing is working, it might be time to consider bunion surgery.
There are multiple treatment options when it comes to bunion surgery, but the most important thing is making sure you are having the correct bunion surgery to fix your bunion pain. A hallux valgus deformity (bunion) can have a variety of causes and a variety of changes in angles and rotation. One bunion procedure might be the correct foot surgery for Patient A, but not the correct surgery for Patient B.
An Austin bunionectomy (which can be done with a normal incision or with a mini-bunion technique) is most commonly used for smaller changes in angulation or foot deformity. An exostectomy (removing the bump from the bunion) might be utilized to reduce a painful bunion bump.
For larger changes in angulation, hypermobile 1st rays, 1st ray pain, etc, there is a procedure called a Lapidus that might be the correct procedure for you. The more common system for the Lapidus procedure that we use is called the Lapiplasty. With the Lapiplasty plating system, most patients have reduced time off of their feet.
If you are interested in the Lapiplasty procedure or other bunion procedures, please give us a call!
