Anyone with info on Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery (keyhole)

Hi Pamela,

I had a minimally invasive bunion surgery, Chevron and Akin osteotomy on both feet with three screws in each foot, plus correction of the second toe in one foot with a K wire, three weeks ago. The recovery was, so far, practically painless. I didn't have to take a single tablet of endone that I was given at discharge from the hospital, and was just taking paracetomol in the evening, once a day, for 10 days or so . Swelling is relatively minor. I'm still wearing post-operational shoes (Darco orthowedge), they were awkward at first but it's a matter of getting used to them. I walk up and down the stairs several times a day without problem. The original bandage was removed at two weeks, and the stitches that I saw were four small separate small stitches in each foot, rather than long cuts with many stitches as seen in many photos posted here. In short, I would not doubt to recommend this procedure. The full story is forthcoming .

Cheers,

Yuri

Hi Pam,

Sorry about several days of absence, was busy with other things - I'm working from home and had to deal with a few urgent projects and a conference deadline

I'm in Australia too, live in Canberra. My operation was done at Canberra Hospital by Dr. Gavel Kulisiewicz. It was done under Medicare, and I had to wait about two years since submitting the GP's referral letter. All other detais will be in my thread that I'm about to start now.

Cheers,

Yuri

Hi Pam

i am in England and enquired about the minimally invasive surgery for my bunions on both feet.  I was told it is not suitable for everyone and in fact the surgeon I saw locally did not do it.  It turned out that I could not have the basic bunion surgery anyway - I had put off seeing anyone for far too long and had severe arthritis in both feet.  I would advise you to see a surgeon

sooner rather than later to see what surgery might be suitable for you.  I had big toe fusion on one foot and cheilectomy on the other and am making a good recovery five weeks post-op.  I have been wearing Velcro splints and the special shoes since 10 days post-op, which I am allowed to take off for showering.  My feet look pretty good and my only regret is not having it done sooner!

Hello. From what I''ve read in my hours of boredom, that procdure isn't routinely done much in the US because there's a lot more risk for complications than the other so called "open" procedures. Here's an interesting article about it:  http://www.podiatrytoday.com/emerging-insights-minimally-invasive-hallux-valgus-correction

Hope this helps.

 

Hi Pam

My surgeon does not perform the minimally invasive surgery at all. She told me she would be negligent if she performed the routine open bunion surgery on me though, as you say, due to the arthritis.  I had big toe arthrodesis on the worst affected foot (the right) which removes the arthritic component and pins the toe, and cheilectomy on the other, which is supposedly the lesser surgery but I had much more pain from it!  It has really not been too bad though, I have no pain now and I can walk ok.  Just can't wait to be able to take these Velcro splints off - I see my consultant in two weeks.  Hope you manage to find all the information you need. 

Gill

Hi Pam, I had micro-invasive bunion surgery done 4 months ago in the UK, using the Bosch technique which uses no screws, just the wires. I had both feet done at the same time and walked out of the clinic on a pair of crutches (which I used for another day at home and maybe 3 days if going outside, just for security more than anything) and wearing the Darco velcro splints and a pair of normal sandals provided by the clinic. I followed the advice of the surgeon and kept my feet raised as much as I could, but bear in mind I have 2 very young children (3 & 1 yrs old). I also emigrated to Australia 7 weeks after the surgery, which was 3 weeks after having the wires out, so it was a busy time for me! I had no real pain and didn't need the strong painkillers provided. I just took the anti-inflammatories & paracetamol as directed, kept my feet raised, used cool gel packs in the evening and that was it. I wasn't able to drive but I could walk short distances within a week (like taking my daughter to nursery), again following the advice of the surgeon, by just walking on my heels/outside of my foot. I honestly had no problems at all and cannot recommend the technique and the clinic where I had it done enough. I couldn't find another surgeon or clinic that would use this technique, either in the UK or in Sydney. NHS & private surgeons in the UK all use older techniques. At best, they will do it through the smaller incision but the procedure they perform is still the old technique. I have a friend who had the old technique done on one foot. She wasn't able to weightbear on that foot for 6 weeks and experienced pain and problems in the foot for 2 years. She really regretted having it done and was very jealous of my experience, and the end result! As I was moving to Australia I did also search for clinics that used the Bosch technique here but found that no one did, it was all the old techniques. Also surgeons performing such operations in Sydney weren't even orthopaedic surgeons but podiatrists with some surgery training. So that was a definite no for me! I had mine done with the European Foot Institute. They work in the UK & Germany. You can find them on Facebook and see the work Dr Nowak has done which I found very reassuring prior to having it done myself. Another thing to note is the cost of this technique is dramatically less than the older techniques as the surgery is so much less invasive and lengthy, as is the rehab afterwards. Mine was actually covered by private health but I was willing to pay for it privately if I had to. The end result and the effect it's had on my life is invaluable!