Purpose of the study: Chronic lateral instability of the ankle is often associated with residual varus deformity of the rear foot and exaggerated plantar flexion of the first ray. Several surgical techniques have been described to treat this problem, but recurrence can occur if all the components of the instability are not corrected. The purpose oft his work was to present was to present a new diagnostic and therapeutic approach to the treatment of recurrent lateral instability of the ankle.

Material and methods: Eight patients with talipes cavovarus(9 feet) were treated for recurrent chronic instability of the ankle. All patients had undergone at least one prior procedure to stabilize the rear foot and suffered persistent pain as well as subjective ankle instability. Mean age was 25 years. All patients underwent a calcaneal osteotomy for lateralization and transfer of the long fibular onto the short fibular ligament, with an additional Bronström ligament reconstruction in four cases. Clinical and radiological follow-up was 37 months on average.

Results: All patients were very satisfied. The AOFAS score improved from 58 points preoperatively to 97 points (max 100 points) at last follow-up. Postoperative alignment of the rear foot was considered physiological in all cases.

Conclusion: Recurrent chronic lateral instability of the ankle is often associated with chronic misalignment of the rear foot, leading to gait disorders and persistent pain. Ligament insufficiency, varus misalignment, and over-solicitation of the long fibular should be investigated and treated with an individually adapted surgical procedure in order to correct the recurrent instability. The results of this approach have been very promising and have been associated with very strong patient satisfaction.

Purpose of the study: Recurrent deformity in adulthood after successful treatment of clubfoot in childhood is exceptional. Patients experience subjective instability of the hindfood associated with progressive varus deformity and osteoarthritis of the subtalar joint. The purpose of this study was to analyze outcome after double arthrodesis in the specific situation.

Material and methods: Nine patients aged 41 years on average (range 18–64 years) were reviewed clinically and radiologically at mean 43 months follow-up after double arthrodesis (subtalar and Chopart). Time between the primary surgery and arthrodesis was 25 years on average (range 8–37 years). Clinical outcome was assessed with the AOFAS system. Plain x-rays were analyzed.

Results: The AOFAS score improved from 42 points preoperatively to 67 points on average at last follow-up (maximum 90 points). Improvement in pain was less pronounced, 27 points preoperatively and 13 points at last follow-up. Ankle motion did not decrease significantly. There was a non-significant progression of the ankle joint osteoarthritic degeneration in 71% of patients. Subjectively, the patients were moderately satisfied with the postoperative alignment of the hindfoot.

Conclusion: Double arthrodesis is often the only alternative for adults with recurrent clubfoot deformity causing pain and subjective instability of the hindfoot. The results in our series did not reveal any significant progression of the ankle joint degeneration at midterm follow-up of three years. Pain and subjective instability were improved, though the physiological alignment of the hindfoot could not be totally restored.

Background: Distal metatarsal osteotomy is indicated for correction of mild to low-moderate symptomatic hallux valgus deformity and has shown good to excellent functional and cosmetic results. Original chevron osteotomy and its modifications are the most used distal metatarsal osteotomies. These techniques have limitations for correction of greater deformities.

Objective: To describe a new reversed L-shaped (ReveL) distal metatarsal osteotomy through minimal invasive technique to treat mild to severe hallux valgus deformities and to analyze the functional and cosmetic results of this procedure after at least two years follow-up.

Methods: Between November 2002 and March 2004, a ReveL osteotomy through single medial short approach was performed by 95 patients (120 feet) of an average age of 53 years (range 16 to 79). Overall complications, hallux valgus and I–II intermetatarsal angle corrections were analysed. 28 patients (36 feet) were clinically and radiologically reviewed with a mean follow-up of 33 months (range 25 to 42).

Results: 89% of the patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the cosmetic result. The average AOFAS score increased from 56 points preoperatively to 91 points at mean follow-up. There were no nonunion or avascular necrosis. The mean correction of the hallux valgus angle was 11° and 5 ° for the I–II intermetatarsal angle. There was no significant loss of correction of hallux valgus angle and I–II intermetatarsal angle between first postoperative assessment and follow-up. At least two years after the procedure, the force developped at the forefoot at push-off was still decreased compared to a normal population, particularly on the first metatarsal and on the big toe.

Conclusions: Good and very good functional and cosmetic results were obtained after Revel osteotomy for correction of symptomatic hallux valgus up to 60° of deformity in our series. There was no significant loss of correction after two years follow-up. The reduced forces on the first metatarsal head and on the first toe had no negative influence on the final subjective and objective result.