New bunion surgery gets patients back on feet much quicker

HOUSTON – A new treatment is speeding up the recovery from a painful foot problem affecting millions of people, especially women: bunions.  

Bunions happen when the joint at the base of the big toe isn't properly aligned.

Traditional therapy involves cutting and shaving the bone. Unfortunately, about half the time, the bunions return after surgery.

Now, there is a new surgery called lapiplasty. It realigns the bone instead of shaving it down. The big toe is then fused into the correct position and held together with special plates and screws.

With traditional bunion surgery, a patient is off their feet for six to eight weeks. Patients having lapiplasty are back on their feet in about two weeks.