West Virginia resident Danita, a 58-year-old banking consultant, developed a bunion on her right foot in her early 30’s and one on her left foot less than a decade later. At first, the discomfort associated with each bunion was tolerable, but over time, it became more severe.

As the years went by, the bunions grew and rubbed against the inside of her shoes, making it very painful to walk. She saw a podiatrist once or twice a year, who debrided the calluses and shaved them in an effort to reduce the pain, but it was always a temporary fix. Danita inquired about surgical correction, using the traditional 2D method, but after her podiatrist warned her about the very long recovery time, she decided to hold off, not wanting to take extended time off work.

By the time Danita reached her mid-to-late fifties, she was in agony walking. Fortunately, in December 2017, she was listening to the radio and heard Dr. Robert Santrock, a foot and ankle surgeon in nearby Morgantown, discuss Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction^™. Encouraged by what she heard, she researched the procedure online and e-mailed Dr. Santrock’s office for an appointment. A few weeks later, she was in his office.

Danita’s research mirrored what she heard Dr. Santrock speak about on the radio: that the Lapiplasty® procedure returns the entire metatarsal bone to its normal alignment and stabilizes the joint, naturally removing the bump and straightening the toe. Unlike a traditional 2D osteotomy bunion surgery which focuses more on the cosmetic “bump”, Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction^™ addresses the true root cause of bunions by permanently stabilizing the unstable joint at the base of the big toe and rotating the misaligned bone back into normal alignment. The patented, metal plates used to permanently secure the unstable joint would allow her to put weight on her foot very soon after surgery.

Danita underwent the Lapiplasty® Procedure on her left foot on April 4, 2018 and, after being fitted with a walking boot, Dr. Santrock allowed her to put weight on her foot later that day. Per Dr. Santrock’s instructions, she wore the boot for six weeks but was feeling good enough to return to work after just two weeks.

Today, nine weeks after her surgery, Danita is back walking in comfortable shoes and, with each passing week, she notices progression in her recovery.

“I took off the walking boot a few days after my surgery to look at my toe and knew then that I made the right decision.” said Danita. “I’m very happy with the procedure, so much so that I’ve already scheduled the Lapiplasty® Procedure on my right foot!”

Only a surgeon can tell if Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction^™ is right for you and what level of activity you can expect after healing is complete. As with any medical treatment, individual results may vary and this experience is unique and specific to this patient only. There are potential risks with surgery and recovery takes time. Potential risks include, but are not limited to: infection, discomfort from the presence of the implant, loosening of the implant, and loss of correction with nonunion or malunion