The deformity in the bone of the foot, specifically in the toe, is often referred to as a “bunionette.” This excessive protrusion of the bone causes a deformity of the foot’s natural structure that causes swelling, redness, pain in the foot joints, calluses, and other ailments. This deformity occurs when the bones in the front of the foot slip out of place.
Most people with this condition tend to believe that this condition is natural and can be easily corrected. Sometimes, they dismiss the pain and become accustomed to living with it. But bunions are complex three-dimensional deformities that arise from an instability in a joint in the midfoot.
Bunions are usually corrected with the Lapiplasty procedure. This is a technologically advanced procedure. If you want to have it done, but can’t afford it, let’s answer your main question “Is Lapiplasty covered by insurance?”
What is the Lapiplasty procedure?
Lapiplasty is a technologically advanced procedure to correct the three dimensions of the bunion and repair the root of the problem, i.e., the unstable joint. People often think of bunions as bony overgrowths. Still, they are complicated deformities caused by an unstable joint in the sole that prevents the bone from aligning.
This state-of-the-art surgical procedure is based on restoring the bone of the sole to normal alignment. The unstable joint is corrected with titanium plates so the patient can stand up quickly.
Why opt for a Lapiplasty?
Patients dealing with this condition believe that the way to end the bone deformity is to cut and file the bone, but the reality is that, over time, the bone returns to the same shape, and the deformation is born again. Traditional methods have proven not to repair the problem at the root (the unstable joint) but only provide superficial and momentary alternatives.
With the Lapiplasty technological intervention, the bone is not cut, but the unstable joint, which is the cause of the whole problem, is corrected. The patient does not take many days to walk again, which is beneficial to continue the patient’s routine activities.
If you are unsure about considering this method as an alternative, you are not the only person with this condition. It is estimated that an average of 65 million people in the United States are affected by bunion deformity. 97% of patients who opted for Lapiplasty maintained their bunion correction after 13 months. After opting for this procedure, the patient could bear weight on their foot 10.5 days after the operation. Twenty-one clinical publications support the Lapiplasty approach.
Does insurance cover Lapiplasty?
Now we answer the million-dollar question, “Does insurance cover Lapiplasty?” the answer is yes. If you are convinced that this is the alternative for your problem, medical insurance does cover this surgical procedure. Medicare is one of the insurers that cover the bunionectomy and joint fusion procedures used in the Lapiplasty process, as long as the system is medically necessary. However, most private insurances cover this treatment.
To take part of this process, you must be evaluated by a physician, and if the specialist determines that the procedure is necessary; you can contact your insurance company to quote the operation; that is, to establish the level of coverage and define a final cost. You can also check with your doctor, and they will contact the insurance company to verify coverage.
What are the risks of undergoing a Lapiplasty?
As with any medical treatment, the results and complications in each patient may vary. There are some potential postoperative risks. If you are going to participate in one, keep an eye out for any of these complications:
- Infection
- Adverse reactions to a foreign body
- Abnormal pain, discomfort, or sensation due to the presence of the implant
- Loosening, bending, cracking, or fracturing of the implant
- Loss of bone fixation
- Delay or loss of correction or anatomical position with nonunion or consolidation with defects
- Implant migration
- Delayed correction in bone alignment
- Decreased bone density
- Bursitis or inflammation of the bursa sac that provides cushioning and helps reduce tissue friction
Who is not a candidate for Lapiplasty?
Due to the complications and risks associated with the surgical procedure, it is estimated when a person may or may not be a candidate for the operation. If you meet any of these conditions, you are not eligible for Lapiplasty:
- Pediatric patients under 12 years of age
- Patients between 12 and 21 years of age, because their skeleton is still growing, may cause the implant to move
As with other surgeries, you are also not a candidate for Lapiplasty if you meet any of the following conditions:
- Active infection
- Limited blood supply
- Obesity or low bone mass
- Mental or neurological illness that prevents compliance with all postoperative care
- Known sensitivity to foreign body implantation
Before opting for this type of surgical procedure, we recommend that you talk to your surgeon so that they can advise you about the benefits or not of Lapiplasty for you. Depending on your health, the specialist can also inform you about the risks as a patient.
What is postoperative care?
Will frame the care after the operation in a series of instructions agreed between the surgeon and the patient. Following all these steps will allow a successful recovery. As with any implant, there are limitations, and failure to follow the rules may impair the development of physical activities.
Some of the most common instructions are the following:
- Consecutively begin weight bearing with a walking boot for a few days after surgery
- Wear walking boots for six to eight weeks after surgery. After that, you can start wearing more comfortable shoes
- Begin routine, unrestricted activities, such as running and wearing regular shoes, within the first four to five months after surgery
Contact Lapiplasty
If you have any questions or want more information about the surgery, you can call 800-363-4145. When you reach the Lapiplasty patient call center, you will speak with a patient care agent who will happily answer all your questions.