Bunion surgery takes years to master and hundreds of procedures to become proficient. Experience is one of the best outcome predictors in addition to ongoing training and learning. As a physician part of our job is to constantly evaluate our own outcomes and explore techniques to improve our results. I continue to monitor my outcomes and satisfaction from patients. This has helped me to have a unique perspective on long term bunion surgery outcomes.
I have found that two bunion surgeries seem to be the most predictable procedures that have favorable results. They both have been around for years and have been utilized on hundreds of thousands of patients. These two procedures are the Austin and Lapidus bunionectomy.
The Austin is a procedure that is preformed on the head of the first metatarsal. It involves the release of some soft tissue around the bone and then cutting and sliding the bone back into position. This procedure works very well on smaller bunions with no foot instability. It has a quick recovery and can be done in under 1 hr.
The second is procedure the Lapidus or Lapiplasty is the work horse of bunion surgery. It utilized on larger bunions, people with foot instability or juveniles. It provides great correction and incredible long-term results. It involves release of some soft tissue structures around the head of the first metatarsal, then realignment of the first metatarsal and a tarsometatarsal fusion. It can take about 2 hours and has a longer recovery.
If you have a bunion, I would be glad to help you evaluate it and weigh your options between conservative and surgical correction. Give us a call at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online today.
Board Certified Foot & Ankle Surgeon
