Bunion Specialist

AZ Choice Foot and Ankle

Christopher Suykerbuyk, DPM

Podiatrist & Foot & Ankle Surgeon located in Gilbert, AZ

Though bunion treatment begins with conservative options, this bone deformity often requires surgery. Unfortunately, the bunion returns in up to 70% of patients choosing traditional surgery. Christopher Suykerbuyk, DPM, at AZ Choice Foot and Ankle in Gilbert, Arizona, has a better solution: the Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™. As a specialist in this innovative procedure, Dr. Suykerbuyk has received extensive training and performed so many that the practice is a Center of Distinction for Lapiplasty. If you need permanent relief from bunion pain, call the office or use the online booking system today.

928-832-3819

Bunion Q&A

What causes a bunion?

A bunion, also called hallux valgus, represents a bone deformity in your big toe. The problem occurs when the tip of the toe bends inward while the joint at the base of the toe moves outward. The deformed joint creates a bump on the side of your foot.

Bunions usually develop due to an inherited structural problem. The resulting imbalance causes pressure that gradually leads to deformity. Wearing high-heels or tight-fitting shoes don’t cause a bunion, but they can aggravate an existing deformity.

What symptoms develop due to a bunion?

In addition to the bony lump on the side of your foot, you may experience:

Pain
Inflammation
Limited big toe movement
Calluses or corns on the bump
Hardened skin on the bottom of your foot

Joint damage may also cause bursitis or arthritis.

What type of bunion treatment might I need?

You should seek help at the earliest sign of a bunion because the deformity gets progressively worse without treatment. The first step in bunion treatment focuses on relieving pain and preventing ongoing joint damage.

Dr. Suykerbuyk may recommend modifying your activities, getting new shoes, using bunion padding, or wearing a splint at night.

Some patients benefit from customized orthotics. Prescription orthotics can correct imbalances, offload pressure, improve your gait, and correct a mild deformity.

Dr. Suykerbuyk talks with you about surgery when conservative treatments fail or you have an advanced bunion with severe symptoms. When you need surgery, the best option is Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction.

What should I know about Lapiplasty surgery for bunions?

Traditional surgical procedures primarily cut off the bony lump and realign the bones. That approach, however, doesn’t repair the root cause of your bunion. That’s why so many people still have pain, and their bunion returns after surgery.

When bunions develop, the bones in your big toe move in three directions. They lean sideways, rotate out of alignment, and elevate upward all at the same time. The Lapiplasty procedure produces exceptional results because it corrects all three problems.

Dr. Suykerbuyk uses special instruments to restore the toe’s normal anatomy. Then he places titanium braces over the bones to maintain their structure and stabilize the joint.

You can walk without pain within days of your Lapiplasty procedure—additionally, nearly 97% of all patients who have it maintain their results for the long run.

Don’t wait to get bunion treatment. Call AZ Choice Foot and Ankle or book an appointment online today.