<minimally invasive bunion surgery>

Current forefoot surgery and in particular Bunion correction is performed through an open incision. This takes time to heal and can have complications e.g infection, prolonged pain and swelling. Mr Palmer performs minimally invasive bunion correction operations in suitable patients through two or three small "percutaneous" or "key-hole" incisions as a day case procedure using new low speed burrs with high torque and a special mini-xray machine. This promotes rapid healing and reduced pain and stiffness of the joint with minimal complications. If required this surgery can be performed under a local anaesthetic. Immediate weight bearing is possible. Healing time is between 4 to six weeks although swelling may last longer.

These techniques are a modernised version of the system popularised in the Daily Mail newspaper as a "five minute procedure" and described on the Channel Four documentary "Embarrassing bodies" by Dr Dieter Nollau. These techniques are more advanced as a two level more stable and controllable realignment is acheived. Stabilisation of the fixation is either acheived with a temporary titanum wire or small specially designed bone screws inserted by "key-hole" techniques.

PREOPERATIVE BUNION IMAGE IMMEDIATELY AFTER MIS SURGERY (same patient)

Mr Palmer was one of the only English Surgeons to attend the first meeting of GRECMIP, a society of French Surgeons who have developed these techniques in Bordeaux in 2007. Since then he has continued to developed his skills with French foot surgeons and other leading UK foot surgeons. Mr Palmer is currently undertaking many research studies in these techniques.

PREOPERATIVE BUNION IMAGE IMMEDIATELY AFTER MIS SURGERY (same patient)

Currently Mr Palmer is able to offer bunion correction, cheilectomy for arthritis, bunionette correction (5th toe), lesser toe surgery (hammer toe, claw toe, metatarsalgia) in suitable patients with these keyhole techniques. These techniques are available at Goring Hall Hospital in West Sussex and Clinic Nine in Hove near Brighton (after the retirement of Dr Nollau). Most health insurance companies will cover these procedures.

A minimally invasive Cheilectomy (removal arthritic bone) for arthritis of the great toe.

Foot after Cheilectomy demonstrating incision.

Download the current NICE recommendations and advice on this new technique here

Down load leaflet PDF file on MINIMALLY INVASIVE FOOT SURGERY (with screws) here

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