Lapiplasty in Kansas City

Lapiplasty


Advanced surgery for permanent bunion relief.

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Lapiplasty in Kansas City


What is Joint Fusion Procedures?

Dealing with bunions can be a painful experience that leads to functional loss and deformity. Bunions occur when a person’s big toe bends toward the other toes on your feet, rather than straight ahead. This happens when the bone or tissues at the bottom of your big toe joint are under stress over time, causing the big toe to point inward surgical recommendations.

Without correction, this can cause complications with arthritis, skin irritation, and breakdown, and can even make it difficult to walk. In this instance, the providers at Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance can perform a lapiplasty if more conservative treatments aren’t effective. This surgical procedure corrects the malalignment in your toe and places it in a more normal position.

Our highly trained orthopedic foot and ankle physicians at Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance have the expertise required to treat numerous issues, both surgically and non-surgically. When you visit a specialist at KCOA, we focus on creating a treatment plan based on your specific conditions, symptoms, and recovery goals.

Choosing a lapiplasty in Kansas City is a decision that typically involves guidance from your primary care doctor and orthopedic physician.

When you choose Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance, one of our highly-trained orthopedic foot and ankle specialists will conduct an initial evaluation to better understand your condition. After a complete review of your results, your provider will then discuss whether lapiplasty is the best treatment option for you.

Your First Appointment

Signs of bunions include:

  • Pain (specifically near the big toe)
  • Tenderness
  • Redness
  • Hardened skin on the bottom of the foot
  • A bump located on the big toe forcing it inward
  • Stiffness and restricted motion in the big toe

Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance Foot & Ankle Injuries Assessment


Assessing the Injury

Determining the proper ankle replacement treatment process starts with an assessment from one of our experienced providers.

You can think of foot and ankle pain as a spectrum, with some instances being more severe than others. The KCOA orthopedic specialists always focus on each patient and their concerns before creating a treatment plan.

Therefore, during your initial appointment, we will often ask questions such as:

  • Does your pain currently limit you or your activities?
  • Does walking or putting weight through your foot increase your symptoms?
  • Has your pain progressed or worsened recently?
  • Have you experienced any tingling or numbness in your foot that makes tasks difficult?
  • Did you notice or hear a popping sound at the time of your injury?
  • Have you noticed any change in your symptoms that has made it more challenging to function?
  • What are your lifestyle goals?
  • How has pain affected those goals?

 

The answers to these questions help shape the next steps of the assessment process and guide our physical examination.

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Examination

After a proper assessment, we often begin with a physical examination to help determine the origin point of your pain. In some cases, advanced testing may be required for a full diagnosis.

X-Ray – Also called radiographs, an X-ray captures a picture of the ankle, heel, or lower leg. Orthopedic physicians may order an X-ray to rule out the possibility of a fracture (broken bone), osteoarthritis, or other bone-related conditions.

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Establishing a Care Plan

Based on the results of your interview, examination, and imaging studies, you can expect a custom care plan catered to you.

Many people believe it’s best to wait until pain becomes severe, leading them to “put off” or delay treatments like foot or ankle injuries. If you are in constant discomfort, have shooting or stabbing pains, have limited range of motion, or an inability to perform your daily activities, let our experts determine the treatments that might be right for you. New technologies allow patients with severe foot and ankle pain to fully recover and enjoy the benefits of a more functional, pain-free lifestyle.

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Pre-Op

Prior to surgery, you will typically receive at least 2 phone calls:

  1. A hospital registration representative will call to gather insurance and other personal information.
  2. A registered nurse will call to review your health history and medication information.

Dependent on your health history, your physician may require:

  • Pre-surgical laboratory tests
  • X-rays
  • Primary care clearance

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Pre-Op

Pre-operative instructions will vary depending on your physician and the location of your surgery. Always check with your physician before surgery for specific instructions.

Most physicians require that patients not eat or drink after midnight prior to surgery. Additionally, you will need to designate a family member or friend to drive you home on the day you are released from the hospital. Surgical patients cannot drive themselves home.

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Day of Surgery

If you schedule your surgery with a KCOA physician, you can expect the following on surgery day: 

  • A receptionist will check you in at the hospital registration desk.
  • A nurse will take you back and prepare you for surgery. They will start an IV, prepare the surgical site, and review your medical history and medications.
  • Your surgeon and anesthesiologist will visit with you prior to your operation.
  • The surgical team will take you to the operation suite for surgery.

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How it Works

A Lapiplasty procedure, also known as 3-D bunion correction, works by making an incision in the toe and utilizing two anatomically-shaped titanium plates to help secure the foundation of your toe.

Bunion issues are often caused by unstable joints in the middle of the foot, and this method helps to ensure that the root cause of the issue is treated. This differs from other bunion procedures, which focus on reducing appearance while failing to address the rotational forces at play that contribute to the deformity.

Thanks to the use of titanium plates, our surgeons are able to greatly decrease the risk of the joint deviating again. This helps lead to long-term relief, and can even result in patients resuming an active lifestyle within a few weeks of the procedure.

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Post-Op & What to Expect

A patient’s recovery plan and timeline will vary based on a variety of factors, including age, activity level, goals, and more. However, taking care of your body will be essential to ensure optimal results from your Lapiplasty.

Though timelines will vary based on the individual, many patients are able to walk within days of this corrective procedure. Immediately following your surgery, you will be sent home in a walking boot or splint to ensure protection of the repair. You will also be provided with crutches or a walker and instructed to limit the amount of force you put through the foot. Pairing these with tips like elevating and icing the foot will give you the best chance to achieve an optimal outcome. This will likely include rest, icing, and elevation.

Depending on your individual timeline, patients can expect to resume wearing tennis shoes within 6 to 8 weeks following surgery. Higher impact activities may take anywhere from 3 to 4 months to resume.

Our Process

Symptoms


Common Signs and Symptoms of Bunions

With so many different parts working together in your feet and ankles, there are many potential causes of pain. And each of those causes has a unique set of symptoms.

Bunions can be incredibly painful to deal with, making day-to-day life significantly more challenging by affecting your ability to walk and perform other tasks. They can also be genetic, as patients with family members affected by bunions often deal with the issue as well. They can also develop because of injuries, arthritis, and even the types of shoes you wear.

Causes

Causes of Foot & Ankle Pain

The body has different kinds of joints, and they all face different challenges. The foot and ankle combine for a complex region of the body, totaling 26 bones and 33 small joints that constantly go through daily wear and tear. Soft tissue made up of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels protects the joints and bones.

With all of these different bones in your feet and ankles, injuries and degenerative joint issues become relatively common. As the years go on, many people struggle with the effects of years of repeated movements, such as walking, running, or jumping. There is also the risk of acute injuries and other trauma affecting the area.

Treatment Alternatives

Non-Surgical Treatment

Generally, surgery is not the first choice for treatment at Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance. Only after we’ve explored and exhausted every potential non-invasive option will our physicians recommend a surgical procedure, such as an ankle arthroscopy.

Non-surgical treatments for ankles and feet include:

  • Physical Therapy – Stretching and mobilization activities along with guided exercises, may be helpful in reducing the pain and dysfunction caused by a bunion.
  • Medications – Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Advil) or prescription medications. Especially with NSAIDs, you should always talk to your doctor to ensure they are the right treatment for you. 
  • Orthotics – Proper fitting shoes and the use of custom orthotics can help relieve the symptoms of bunions, as well as alter the angle of the affected area

Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance is here to help.

Our care is personal. Our team is knowledgeable. And we’re more available than ever.

With access to board-certified specialists across Kansas City, we have the tools to meet almost every musculoskeletal condition.

Use our Symptom Tracker Tool to connect with the right KCOA physician for your unique needs—and get back to the things that matter most.

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Testimonials

Great people

Great people who are very willing to help you work through the best way to handle your injury.

Kathy Martinez

Dr. Ting and his staff are the best!

Dr. Ting and his staff are the best! Sarah his nurse is kind and supportive. Dr. Tings nurse for surgery was absolutely the best! Dr. Ting, I have complete faith in. He is who I shall go to for anything he handles! Can’t say enough about him! Thank you all for making a scary time a completely peaceful event. You are the best!!

Valene Vanice

Very knowledgeable

6 weeks post op and Dr. Brown says I’m progressing well. She’s very knowledgeable, and is very quick to answer any questions I have. She’s also very personable, we laughed a lot during my last appointment. Looking forward to seeing her again.

Kayla Mora

Professional

The first thing that I noticed was the traffic flow. This may sound strange but people were being seen and sent out on their way. There was not a huge roomful of frustrated, tired patients. If most (I assume) had uncomfortable and or painful maladies, they didn’t have to wait forever for attention. That was how it was for me. Professional and personable patient care.

Jillian Merrill

Very professional

Very professional physician and staff.
Janet Frieden