A Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery is a surgical procedure that utilizes small incisions by foot specialist Houston to correct the bunion deformity. A bunion is a deformity of the big toe joint that results in a prominent bump and deviation of the big toe towards the smaller toes. Long-standing bunion deformity could lead to arthritis. You may not need lapiplasty surgery in Houston if the bunion is not painful. Over time the bunions get bigger, but one can slow the progress by preventative care, including wearing proper footwear.
A good candidate of minimally invasive Houston bunion surgery would be one with:
- Foot pain that limits everyday activities such as wearing shoes and walking.
- Chronic swelling and inflammation of the big toe that does not respond to medications or rest.
- Toe deformity where the big toe is drifting towards the smaller toes leaving it at risk of crossing under or over each other.
- Inability to straighten or bend the toe due to toe stiffness.
- Failure of pain relief from over-the-counter pain medications and changes in footwear.
During the procedure, small incisions are made to gain access to the inside of the foot, where the metatarsal bone is cut and shifted. Additionally, some screws and pins may be used in fixations to maintain the bunion corrections. The Houston foot and ankle doctor determines the type of fixation to use and discusses the benefits of different methods with you.
- Pin fixation – After the bone is cut and shifted, a pin is inserted. It sticks out for about four weeks then removed with no or minimum pain.
- Screw fixation – The podiatrist places 2-3 screws in the bones and they can be removed at a later date if you desire.
- Screw and pin fixation – This is when the screw and pin are used in the fixation procedure. The pins are later removed in four weeks leaving the screws to continue offering stability to the toe.
The procedure itself may take up to 40 minutes, depending on the type of fixation and the severity of the bunion. Also, you might be in the post-operative care unit only one or two hours after the procedure then you are discharged to go home. After the first two weeks, the dressings and sutures are removed and in four weeks you are allowed to wear a comfortable supportive sneaker. Home physical therapy is recommended to maintain the range of motion of the joint. In at least 8 weeks, you can be sure of returning to everyday activities.
Benefits of minimally invasive bunion surgery
You have less recovery time because using a special shoe can walk immediately with a special shoe gotten from the health care facility. The ultimate benefit is to have an improvement in the deformity, overall clinical appearance, and pain. Following the procedure, you may experience some pain and less swelling because the incisions are small. However, the patients have an individual pain threshold and management to individually to optimize minimal discomfort after surgery.