Published online Mar 18, 2024. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v15.i3.238
Peer-review started: October 22, 2023
First decision: December 28, 2023
Revised: January 7, 2024
Accepted: February 29, 2024
Article in press: February 29, 2024
Published online: March 18, 2024
Processing time: 145 Days and 1.2 Hours
Hallux valgus (HV) is a common foot deformity that manifests with increasing age, especially in women. The associated foot pain causes impaired gait and decreases quality of life. Moderate and severe HV is a deformity that is characterized by the involvement of lesser rays and requires complex surgical treatment. In this study, we attempted to develop a procedure for this condition.
To analyse the treatment results of patients who underwent simultaneous surgical correction of all parts of a static forefoot deformity.
We conducted a prospective clinical trial between 2016 and 2021 in which 30 feet with moderate or severe HV associated with Tailor’s bunion and metatarsalgia were surgically treated via a new method involving surgical correction of all associated problems. This method included a modified Lapidus procedure, M2M3 tarsometatarsal arthrodesis, intermetatarsal fusion of the M4 and M5 bases, and the use of an original external fixation apparatus to enhance correction power. Preoperative, postoperative, and final follow-up radiographic data and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores were compared, and P values < 0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance.
The study included 28 females (93.3%) and 2 males feet (6.7%), 20 (66.7%) of whom had a moderate degree of HV and 10 (33.3%) of whom had severe deformity. M2 and M3 metatarsalgia was observed in 21 feet, and 9 feet experienced pain only at M2. The mean follow-up duration was 11 months. All patients had good correction of the HV angle [preoperative median, 36.5 degrees, interquartile range (IQR): 30-45; postoperative median, 10 degrees, IQR: 8.8-10; follow-up median, 11.5 degrees, IQR: 10-14; P < 0.01]. At follow-up, metatarsalgia was resolved in most patients (30 vs 5). There was a clinically negligible decrease in the corrected angles at the final follow-up, and the overall AOFAS score was significantly better (median, 65 points, IQR: 53.8-70; vs 80 points, IQR: 75-85; P < 0.01).
The developed method showed good sustainability of correction power in a small sample of patients at the one-year follow-up. Randomized clinical trials with larger samples, as well as long-term outcome assessments, are needed in the future.
Core Tip: Although there are several methods of surgical correction for moderate and severe hallux valgus, not all patients achieve the desired treatment result. One of the reasons for this outcome is the involvement of almost all rays of the foot. To achieve a favourable treatment result in these patients, simultaneous correction of all the elements of the deformed forefoot is needed, considering the biomechanical association of this pathology, namely, high mobility of the first and fifth metatarsals.