Bunion Treatment Near Ann Arbor, Michigan | Balance Foot & Ankle

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Comprehensive Bunion Care for Ann Arbor Area Patients

Bunions — hallux abductovalgus deformity — affect an estimated 23% of adults and up to 36% of those over 65, making them one of the most common structural foot conditions treated by podiatrists. For Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County residents, Dr. Tom Biernacki at Balance Foot & Ankle provides a full spectrum of bunion care from conservative management to advanced surgical correction, including the Lapiplasty 3D bunion correction procedure — one of the most effective surgical approaches available for controlling bunion recurrence.

Ann Arbor’s diverse patient population means that bunion presentations vary widely — from young professional women with early progressive bunions driven by footwear choices to older adults with severe rigid deformities that have become functionally limiting. Dr. Biernacki evaluates each patient as an individual, performing weight-bearing X-rays and comprehensive biomechanical assessment to determine the precise degree of deformity, the structural drivers, and the most appropriate treatment pathway for that patient’s age, activity level, and goals.

Many Ann Arbor patients arrive having already tried wide shoes, toe spacers, and various over-the-counter braces without adequate relief. Understanding why previous conservative measures did not work is as important as prescribing the right next step. Dr. Biernacki’s evaluation identifies whether the bunion pain is primarily from the bony prominence rubbing against the shoe (bursal pain), from the joint itself (arthritis), from adjacent toe crowding, or from a combination — because each cause requires a different treatment approach.

Non-Surgical Bunion Treatment Options

Conservative bunion management focuses on symptom control and slowing deformity progression. The cornerstones are footwear modification — wide toe box shoes with adequate depth — and mechanical support in the form of custom orthotics. Wide toe box shoes eliminate the primary extrinsic force driving the bunion deformity and dramatically reduce bursal inflammation, often producing immediate and significant pain reduction. Patients who insist on narrow footwear for professional reasons generally cannot achieve adequate conservative symptom control.

Custom orthotics address first-ray hypermobility — the primary biomechanical driver of bunion formation in most patients — by controlling overpronation and providing medial longitudinal arch support. A properly designed functional orthotic changes how the foot loads with every step, reducing the deforming force on the first metatarsophalangeal joint. This does not reverse existing deformity but meaningfully slows progression and often reduces daily pain substantially.

Toe spacers, silicone separators, and bunion cushions provide symptomatic relief by protecting the bony prominence from shoe friction and maintaining the big toe in a more neutral position during daily activities. Night splints that hold the toe in a corrected position are used by some patients, though evidence for their effectiveness in reducing deformity is limited. These conservative modalities are most beneficial when the deformity is mild to moderate and the patient is committed to appropriate footwear.

Surgical Bunion Correction Including Lapiplasty for Ann Arbor Patients

When conservative care fails to adequately control bunion pain or when the deformity is severe enough to significantly impair function and quality of life, surgical correction is indicated. Dr. Biernacki performs multiple bunion correction procedures, selecting the technique most appropriate for the patient’s specific deformity characteristics. The choice of procedure is based on the degree of angular deformity, the stability of the first tarsometatarsal joint, the presence of arthritis, and patient factors including age, activity level, and recovery tolerance.

The Lapiplasty 3D bunion correction system addresses bunion at its anatomical root — the unstable first tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint — rather than simply cutting the first metatarsal at the traditional level. By correcting the three-dimensional deformity (sagittal, transverse, and frontal plane components) and fusing the TMT joint, the Lapiplasty eliminates the hypermobility that drives bunion formation and dramatically reduces recurrence compared to conventional 2D osteotomy procedures. Most Lapiplasty patients are weight-bearing in a boot within days of surgery, a significant advance over traditional procedures.

Recovery from bunion surgery with Dr. Biernacki includes detailed pre-operative preparation guidance, clear post-operative instructions at each follow-up visit, and coordination with physical therapy when appropriate. Ann Arbor patients appreciate the thoroughness of care and the direct access to Dr. Biernacki — rather than physician extenders — throughout their recovery. To schedule a bunion evaluation, call our office or book online at michiganfootdoctors.com.

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