Bunion surgery has been around for over 100 years. There are many techniques that have been utilized for correction of a bunion.  The majority involve cutting a bone and realigning a joint.  The goal of these surgeries are to straighten the 1^st metatarsal and eliminate the deviation of the bone.  Today with new research and modern technology we have a better understanding of function anatomy and have begun to look at bunion surgery outcomes.  This has led the majority of us surgeons to utilizing the Lapiplasty technique for better long term outcomes.

I personally have been a Lapidus surgeon for over 15 years.  I trained in the Northwest and have had the opportunity to work with some of the pioneers of bunion surgery.  We have seen through research that the Lapidus procedure holds up the best over time.  The long term outcomes show very little recurrence and better overall patient happiness.  The lapiplasty system has allowed us to take the lapidus bunion procedure and make it more reproducible. 

Lapiplasty is a system created by Treace Medical that has taken some of the technically challenging parts of the lapidus bunionectomy and simplified them.  It has a system of cutting jigs and guides that make it simple to correct the bunion.  I find patients are extremely happy and have seen incredible long term results.  If you have a bunion schedule and appointment with me, I can help you review your options. Give us a call at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online today. 

Sincerely,

Dr Brandon Nelson 

Hammer toes are a curling of the digits of the feet.  Specifically the middle of the toes bend downwards and from the side looks similar to a hammer.  There are other digital deformities as well like claw toes and mallet toes.   But today we will just discuss hammer toes. 

Most of the time it is an inherited foot structure that causes hammer toes.  An example of this is a flatfoot.  A person is born with a flat foot and over time the tendons that run to the toes have been working to create an arch for so long the toes permanently deform creating a hammer toe.  There are other causes but the number one cause is the flexor tendons on the bottom of the toe overpowering the other tendons.  Once the tendon imbalance occurs hammer toes are the results. 

There are a few options for treatment of hammer toes.  It is based upon the flexibility of the hammer toe.  Is the hammer toe flexible or rigid?   If the hammer toe is flexible you can release a tendon and the toe will lay flat.  However if the hammer toe is rigid you must remove a small piece of bone in order to get correction.  I also recommend looking at the foot structure that is influencing the hammer toe and correct that as well. 

If you have hammer toes and would like to discuss how I can help make an appointment with me today.  Give us a call at 425-391-8666 or make an appointment online today.

Sincerely, Dr. Brandon Nelson