We are always looking for ways to advance our medical understanding and surgical skills while improving the patient experience. Traditional bunion surgery requires a large incision in order to access the surgery site, but improvements in medical technology have allowed us to fix bunions through a minimally invasive procedure.
Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery
Dr. Silverman has studied and uses the minimally invasive bunion procedure. This technique, developed by Wright Medical, is called the PROStep Surgical Solution. It vastly reduces the operation site compared to traditional open bunion surgery. The open procedure required a 3-5 inch incision in order to access the bunion, but PROStep’s system requires an incision of only 3-5 millimeters. Previous attempts at developing a minimally invasive operation didn’t have the success rates doctors had hoped for, but Wright Medical’s innovation has fixed that.
The system works by utilizing percutaneous micro-incisions in order to access specific areas in the feet. PROStep has greatly reduced the invasiveness of bunion surgery, but it has also been successful in correcting ailments like hammertoes and hallux rigidus. Not all patients are candidates for PROStep, as some conditions require a more invasive bunion surgery.
Benefits Of PROStep Minimally Invasive Foot Surgery
Because the surgical site is only a few millimeters long, scarring is minimal. Aside from a less visible or even invisible scar, other benefits of the PROStep surgical system include:
- Less pain during recovery.
- Faster return to full function compared to the open operation.
- Less damage to surrounding soft tissues.
- Reduced likelihood of wound complications compared to the open procedure.
The procedure is performed using live X-ray which allows the surgeon to visualize the bony structures. The bone is cut using a rotating burr instead of the standard sagittal saw. This high torque, low speed burr allows the surgeon to remove and reshape the bone, generating minimal heat and soft tissue injury.
After surgery, a weight-bearing surgical shoe is used for several weeks to help protect the foot as it heals. After a few weeks, the bunion and any surgical scars will be a thing of the past.
Atlanta Minimally Invasive Foot Surgeon
So if you’ve been dealing with a painful bunion, know that Dr. Silverman has the tools in his arsenal to quickly and safely correct the formation to help get you back to a pain free way of living thanks to the PROStep surgical system. For more information about bunion treatment or the PROStep surgical system, reach out to Lance Silverman, MD today.