Our specialist Dr Andrew Knox is the premiere provider of keyhole bunion surgery in Perth, Western Australia. Since introducing this novel technique in January 2018, he has performed over 350 keyhole-based bunion surgery procedures achieving good deformity correction with a high patient satisfaction rate.
For detailed information on the keyhole bunion surgery procedure we perform, please see our Procedures Page.
A general overview about minimally invasive bunion surgery is provided below for the purposes of this blog post.
What is the difference between traditional bunion surgery and keyhole bunion surgery?
Traditional ‘open’ bunion surgery requires a 10-15cm incision to be made over the top of the big toe joint in order to access the metatarsal bone and perform the bunion correction. This causes significant disruption to the soft-tissue structures around the big toe joint which often leads to permanent joint stiffness, numbness and scar tissue formation.
In contrast, minimally invasive bunion surgery, referred to as ‘keyhole bunion surgery’, only requires three small 2mm incisions to be made around the big toe joint. It is most akin to laparoscopic surgery. Surgical instruments are then introduced into the metatarsal bone through the portals and the bunion correction is carried out using live x-ray guidance.
This highly specialised procedure is only performed by a small number of surgeons in Australia, and the outcomes we have observed at our practice over the past 2 years are so favourable that this technique has become our primary method of bunion correction.
What is the difference in recovery between traditional bunion surgery and keyhole bunion surgery?
Due to a significantly smaller incision, there is reduced trauma to the joint and less damage to soft tissue and surrounding structures with minimally invasive surgery as opposed to traditional techniques. Subsequently, pain and swelling following surgery have been found to be a lot less, allowing patients to get back to their normal activity faster. Since cuts are made to the bone and fixated, the bone still requires adequate healing time, however, this occurs while weight bearing in a post-operative shoe and patients can begin weight-bearing immediately after surgery. The absence of a long incision also means very minimal scarring following surgery, so this technique offers the best possible cosmetic appearance postoperatively.
An example of a recent patient who has had this procedure performed is demonstrated below:
Who is a suitable candidate for minimally invasive bunion surgery?
The type of bunion surgery technique performed depends on the alignment of the bones making up the big toe joint and the severity of the problem. Not everyone will be an ideal candidate for minimally invasive surgery, however seeking an early opinion before the deformity worsens and becomes increasingly painful will give you the best chance of requiring only minimally invasive surgery as opposed to traditional techniques.
Where can I find a foot surgeon who performs minimally invasive bunion surgery in Perth?
Perth Podiatric Surgery is the premiere provider of keyhole bunion surgery in Western Australia. For a specialist consultation with foot surgeon Dr. Andrew Knox call (08) 9383 3851 or book online.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for general information purposes only. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.