Many 13-year-olds spend their days preoccupied with schoolwork, after-school activities, friends, sports and having fun. But for Livia, the pain she felt due to the bunions on both of her feet was a constant distraction from school and play. “Livia is a healthy kid and very active kid,” explained her mother, Peggy. “She plays on the basketball, volleyball and softball teams at her middle school. She hasn’t had any other serious health problems, but you could tell the constant throbbing in her feet was affecting her on the field and throughout her school day. She would regularly remove her shoes to stretch her feet during classes throughout the day.”

A common misconception about bunions is that they are caused by wearing high heels or only affect the elderly. But in reality, the risk of developing this condition can be hereditary.1 Peggy tried to ease her daughter’s pain by wrapping her feet or buying her wider shoes. But, it soon became clear that this worsening problem required more than a temporary solution when Livia became emotional after one particularly difficult week.

“Normally, she keeps to herself and does not complain about much,” Peggy explained. “But my heart broke when she told me, after several two-a-day practices in a row, she was waking up in the middle of the night in tears from the throbbing pain in both of her feet. She rated that pain as an eight or nine out of 10 and that is when I knew it was time to consult an expert.”

The family already knew Dr. Paul Dayton with the Foot and Ankle Center of Iowa and Midwest Bunion Center from prior visits to assess Livia’s condition. “We liked and trusted him, so it was an easy decision to consult him about surgical options,” Peggy said. Dr. Dayton recommended a procedure called Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction^™ that he helped develop. He explained that the Lapiplasty® Procedure would address all three dimensions of Livia’s bunion, realigning her bone, and permanently securing the root cause of the bunion, an unstable joint. Special titanium plates would be used to secure that previously unstable joint, helping to reduce the risk of the bunion returning while enabling her to return to school and sports as quickly as possible. “We were sold when we heard the phrases ‘faster recovery’2 and ‘less risk of recurrence.’3 Livia is young and we did not want her to go through this pain again later in life. She also did not want to sit out from sports for too long,” Peggy explained.

Livia had the Lapiplasty® Procedure done on both feet. Her left foot was corrected first and her right foot was corrected a month later. “It was amazing to see her walking in a boot only a few days after surgery, and it was surprising that her pain level was minimal both times,” Peggy said. “Within 4 months, she was cleared to play sports again and you could notice a difference in her energy levels on the field. She was happy to be back in action, this time, without pain.” Peggy is also relieved that she and her daughter can shop for high heels together when it comes time for Livia to attend important high school events such as prom. “It is a blessing not to have to worry that bunions will add additional stress to an already sensitive and tumultuous time in a girl’s life,” Peggy said. “We only wish we had done this sooner!”

1. American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) Website ©2018, WebMD Website ©2018
2. Smith B, et al. 2017 AOFAS Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA.
3. Ray J, et al. Foot Ankle Int. 2019. [epub ahead of print]

Only a surgeon can tell if Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction^™ is right for you. 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.