Extreme bunion deformity correction of a cerebral palsy patient – 1 year later
A 53 y/o male had a severe left bunion deformity on the same side of his cerebral palsy and spastic thrashing gait. He opted for surgical treatment for his increasing difficulty walking due to severe pain and poor balance/stability of his left foot. 7 months after surgery he returned to independent and unprotected walking, albeit with his usual spastic gait, but without pain or fear of falling.
Salvaging failed bunionectomy – 6 years later
A 53 y/o female underwent a bunionectomy of her right foot 9 years earlier and continued to experience bunion pain and thick metatarsal calluses. After a bilateral Syndesmosis Procedure, her calluses reduced, and she was able to wear high-heel shoes again without pain. Functional improvement was also evident by her F-Scan studies. No signs at all of deformity recurrence for 6 years after surgery.
Salvaging failed bunionectomy – 14 years later
A 36 y/o female suffered recurrence of bunion deformity and pain after a simple bunionectomy (removal of the bony bump) 10 years earlier. However, 14 years after a bilateral Syndesmosis Procedure there was still no pain or sign of recurrence.
Bunion and rigid claw toe correction with pin – 6 months later
A 68 y/o female complained more about her painful claw toe than her bunion. It was rigid and required PIP joint soft tissue release and pinning for one month. We expect the usually consistent functional result of the forefoot after the Syndesmosis Procedure, as well as, the prevention of her claw toe deformity and pain from recurring.
Spontaneous claw toe and severe bunion correction – 1 year later
A 61 y/o female had severe bunion deformities and flexible second claw toes on both feet. One year after a bilateral Syndesmosis Procedure, her photos showed the spontaneous correction of her claw toes without surgery. Her F-Scan study expectedly revealed a remarkably improved pressure pattern of her feet in walking. The associated metatarsal calluses and metatarsalgia disappeared also, as predicted.
Young female runner – 8 years later
This 29 y/o female wanted to be able to jog without bunion pain and calluses. She was able to return to running without pain 6 months after her bilateral Syndesmosis Procedure. 8 years later, there were still no signs of any recurrence.
Moderate bunion and bunionette correction – 4 years later
A 26 y/o female with a moderate bunion deformity had to stay away from high heels to help minimize bunion and bunionette pain. 4 years after a bilateral Syndesmosis Procedure, there was no more bunion or bunionette pain, despite her wear of high-heels. The reason for the spontaneous bunionette pain relief was due to a true forefoot narrowing effect of the surgery and also its normal function restoration, shown in her F-Scan study.
Salvaging failed osteotomy with Morton’s Neuroma – 2 years later
A 58 y/o female previously underwent an osteotomy procedure at age 16. Her feet never felt normal and her shoes were still restricted. She had increasing symptoms of metatarsalgia and Morton’s neuroma despite wearing her foot orthotics. Her 2-year post-op F-scan study showed significantly improved medialization of metatarsal loading in walking. She had no more metatarsalgia but still mild Morton’s neuroma symptoms that did not need further treatment.
Correction of severe bunion with sesamoid bone dislocation – 3 years later
The x-rays of a 54 y/o female showed complete dislocation of lateral sesamoid in both bunion feet. It signified severe dysfunction of big toes that correlated with her calluses, metatarsalgia and difficulties in walking. Three years after a bilateral Syndesmosis Procedure, she still had no more pain. She felt her feet much sturdier and stronger than before, although her big toes were still very weak in her F-scan study and needed more exercises to help further strengthen their muscles.
Improved balance and low back pain – 4 years later
A 31 y/o female with severe bilateral bunion pain, metatarsalgia and low back pain. She also felt herself losing her balance and stumbling often. However, 4 years after surgery she was still extremely pleased with her feet, despite a mild residual bunion appearance due to the metatarsus adductus condition of her feet.
Jogger with severe hammer toe pain – 7 years later
A 40 y/o male had no bunion pain, but severe hammer toe pain in jogging (see first photos). Examination revealed a hypermobile first metatarsal. X-ray revealed a moderate MPV deformity and laterally displaced sesamoids. Function study by F-Scan revealed the abnormal lateral transfer of metatarsal loading. One year after surgery, his x-ray showed a narrowed first intermetatarsal space and F-Scan revealed satisfactory medialization of metatarsal loading. 7 years later, he still had no signs of any hammer toe recurrence.
Loss of foot function impacts the whole body – 10 years later
A 47 y/o female had intolerable bunion pain, metatarsalgia and worsening flat feet. Even her leg muscles and low back became painful when she walked for too long. After undergoing a bilateral Syndesmosis Procedure she felt her arches came back due to realigned and re-stabilized first metatarsals, and the restored windlass effect of the big toes. Disappearance of her metatarsal calluses and metatarsalgia was a testament to adequate restoration of biomechanical function of the forefoot, which normalized her gait and thus also relieved her leg and low back pain from long walks.
Salvaging failed Chevron & Akin Osteotomy – 7 years later
Five years after having Chevron and Akin osteotomy procedures on her left foot, a 58 y/o female underwent a bilateral Syndesmosis Procedure to salvage her recurring, painful bunion deformity on her left foot and also to correct her right untreated bunion foot. Five years after surgery, her F-Scan showed significant medialization of metatarsal loading back to under the first metatarsal in walking. 7 year later, she was still found enjoying unrestricted activities and shoes without any sign of recurrence.
Salvaging failed osteotomy with metatarsalgia – 6 years later
A 54 y/o female continued having severe metatarsalgia in walking 3 years after a mid-shaft osteotomy procedure (break-n-shift surgery). Six years after undergoing a bilateral Syndesmosis Procedure to salvage her failed left foot surgery and also correct her untreated, right bunion foot, she was still enjoying her unrestricted activities and shoes without calluses, pain or recurrence.
Severe bunion condition masked by narrow feet – 7 years later
A 35 y/o female had relatively mild-looking bunions, but experienced severe pain and dysfunction of her feet. Upon examination, she did not have widened forefeet as usually expected in bunion deformity. However, x-rays revealed the important underlying MPV deformity and also the dysfunctional dislocation of lateral sesamoids. F-scan study confirmed severe loss of big toe function in walking. However, 7 years after a bilateral bilateral Syndesmosis Procedure, she had no more pain in hiking, playing badminton & ping-pong, nor any calluses and recurrence.
Spontaneous hammer toe correction – 3 years later
This case demonstrated how the hammer toe deformity of the lesser toes can be caused functionally by bunions and thus they can also be resolved by removing its root cause, the bunion deformity. But, this would only happen if biomechanical function of the foot can be adequately restored. A 62 y/o female had a painful hammer toe on her right foot. Her 3-year postoperative photo and x-ray showed its spontaneous resolution, although a hammer toe was developing in her left, untreated foot.
Spontaneous claw toe correction – 7 years later
67 y/o female, moderate deformity, increasingly painful clawed second toe on left foot. Large metatarsal calluses and abnormal function scan caused by tendency to avoid painful toes while walking. Her bunions, claw toes and pain have not recurred. Function scan improved, but big toes still habitually unused.
Salvaging failed McBride bunionectomy – 6 years later
48 y/o female, patient had McBride procedure 25 years earlier for her left bunion. Bunion and pain recurred, metatarsal calluses formed, poor function scan. Patient underwent Syndesmosis Procedure on both feet for severe bunions, no recurrence of pain nor deformity.
Salvaging failed Lapidus procedure – 11 years later
At 16 y/o, the female patient had an arthroscopic joint fusion surgery elsewhere for painful left bunion. Pain recurred. At 19 y/o, she underwent the Syndesmosis Procedure on both feet for mild deformity. She now wears high heels for work and has had no recurrence. Due to the permanent loss of mobility in her left foot rendered by the Lapidus procedure, she still feels discomfort in her left foot when wearing heels.