Keyhole Bunion Surgery
The keyhole bunion surgery techniques of the foot and ankle developed after Mr Palmer attended a meeting with like-minded French and Spanish surgeons in Bordeaux in 2006. Mr Palmer was one of the few English Surgeons to be trained and learn these techniques in 2007. Since then he has continued to develop his skills and his techniques with Eoropean foot surgeons and other leading UK foot surgeons. Mr Palmer is currently undertaking many research studies in these minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of foot and ankle problems.
The bunion surgery operation is completed as a day case procedure with a healing time of between 4-6 weeks (although swelling may last a little longer.) The procedure can be performed under local anaesthesia if required. Patients can weight bear immediately but post operative elevation of the foot is important.
The “keyhole” technique has a number of benefits over traditional ‘open’ surgery, such as: -
- Rapid Healing and Recovery
- Less Scarring
- Reduced Pain and Stiffness of the Joint
- Less Risk of Complications, such as Infection
A more stable and controllable realignment is achieved, when compared with traditional bunion surgery. Stabilisation of the fixation is either achieved with a temporary titanium wire or small specially designed bone screws inserted through very small incisions. The titanium wire remains in place for up to 4 weeks, and then is removed very easily in the outpatient department once healing is well underway. The small screw does not usually require removal.
Patients will be left with 2-3 small scars, from the minimally invasive incisions. Typically these will heal to less than 1cm each in size. Many other related problems e.g hammer toe, arthritis can also be treated with these minimally invasive techniques.
