Revision Toe Surgery

Revision bunion surgery

In some cases, bunion surgery (hallux valgus) fails. While this may be caused by a new structural problem or patient-related factors, such as medical comorbidities or noncompliance with post-surgical weight-bearing restrictions, many failures result from poor surgical decisions and/or poor surgical technique.

A failed bunionectomy may be caused by:

• Malunion and nonunion. This refers to the bone healing improperly, leading to misalignment or deformity, causing foot pain and discomfort
• Undercorrection of the big toe joint. Surgeons decide on the best method based on clinical and imaging findings (x-rays). If they choose a technique that’s not strong enough, they might not completely resolve the issue, which could cause the bunion to recur.
• Overcorrection. The overcorrection of hallux valgus deformities occurs less frequently than undercorrection but typically leads to more severe symptoms and higher patient dissatisfaction. While undercorrection is often due to incorrect surgical planning, overcorrection is usually caused by technical mistakes made by the surgeon.

Dr. Baravarian specializes in performing bunion-revision surgery. Many of our patients come to us after previous bunion surgeries at other facilities have proved unsuccessful. Revisions account for almost one-third of our bunion surgeries.

It is essential to choose your revision surgeon wisely. Bunion revision surgery requires the necessary experience and skill to understand and address the shortcomings of the original surgery.

If surgery is indicated, our podiatrists will discuss your treatment options with you. The type of surgical procedure depends upon the severity of the bunion, your age, general health, activity level, and the condition of the bones and tissue.

Revision of a failed hammertoe surgery

Regrettably, not all hammertoe surgeries result in a successful outcome with an aligned, pain-free toe.

Revision of hammertoe surgery is one of the most challenging problems to treat. Often, there has been so much bone removal that there is not enough left to correct the deformed toes. In some cases, there is enough bone, but the cut made is incorrect, resulting in poor toe alignment.

Fortunately, most cases of hammertoe deformity can be corrected with proper treatment. Corrections are performed using special pins and, if necessary, bone grafts to adjust the length and alignment of the toes.

Dr. Bob Baravarian has conducted extensive research and refined many techniques for correcting hammertoe surgery failures. He is one of the very best hammertoe treatment specialists in California. 

Failed fusion surgery repair

Although it is rare for joint fusion surgery to need revision, there are several causes of fusion failure. These include poor fixation, lack of proper bone and cartilage removal from the joint, infection, and overall poor healing from the initial surgery.

Our podiatrists have extensive knowledge of revision procedures for significant toe problems, including conservative orthotic and shoe modifications, revision osteotomy, fusion procedures, and implant replacement options.

Why choose Dr. Baravarian for surgery revision?

Dr. Bob is one of the most technologically advanced podiatry clinics in the country.

He understands and treats foot and ankle conditions, utilizing all modern treatment modalities to their fullest advantage—these range from conservative techniques to foot surgery using state-of-the-art technologies. Bob Baravarian provides expert knowledge when evaluating and performing revisions to foot and ankle surgeries performed elsewhere.

Dr. Bob Baravarian is conveniently located in Los Angeles, near Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, providing expert foot and ankle care for patients throughout Southern California.