The Lapidus procedure decreases the movement of the first Tarsal-MetaTarsal (TMT) joint and straightens out the first metatarsal and toe, enabling a quick recovery for your bunions and major other deformities caused by first TMT joint hypermobility.
This surgery is often selected when your bunion deformity has a very large angle, or when there is increased mobility through your tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint. When this joint is too loose causing too much movement, the condition is known as hypermobility or instability. When this joint becomes hypermobile, the first metatarsal moves too far in one direction and the big toe compensates by moving too much in the other direction. When this happens, a bunion can develop.
The looseness of your joint and its hypermobility may lead to the pain experienced on the ball of the foot as the first metatarsal floats up, thereby allowing the excessive weight of your body to go to adjacent metatarsals (commonly the second and the third).
In such cases, the metatarsal-tarsus joint is fused to provide lasting stability.
We recommend the Lapidus procedure if you may not get enough correction and alignment from an osteotomy alone due to a severe deformity, instability of the first ray, or a loose metatarsal-tarsal joint (located in the mid-foot).
Signs that you may need a Lapidus procedure:
TMT joint hypermobility, the foot can be so wide that it is difficult to find shoes that fit.
The Lapidus procedure is often a quick surgery correction surgery. The patient arrives 1-2 hours before the scheduled start of the procedure and goes home the same day.