Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the subjective, clinical and radiological improvement in patients with moderate to severe hallux rigidus undergoing Proximal Phalangeal Dorsomedial Closing-wedge Osteotomy with Cheilectomy.

Methods: Between March 2003 and November 2004, 17 patients (18 feet) underwent Proximal Phalangeal Dorsomedial Closing-wedge Osteotomy with Cheilectomy, 14 were available for clinical follow-up; pre and post-operative X-rays were available for all of them.

The Clinical assessment was based on modified American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society’s hallux-metatarsophalangeal scale. The subjective assessment was done by a questionnaire and radiological assessment was done by using digital radiographs.

Results: Out of the 18 feet we studied, 1 was of Grade 1, 9 of Grade 2 and 8 of Grade 3. 12 out of 14 patients (85%) were satisfied with the outcome after an average follow-up period of 14 months. There was an increase in the Mean mAOFAS score of 49.6 (from a mean score of 26.2 to 75.8); the improvement in pain score was 27.4. With a mean osteotomy thickness of 1.78 mm, the proximal phalangeal length was decreased by a mean of 3.7mm. The medialization achieved in the men M1-P1 angle was 6.8 degrees. There was a highly significant gain of 25 degrees in Mean Dorsiflexion which cannot be explained by a mean increase of only 0.9 mm in the lateral dorsal joint space attributable to cheilectomy.

Conclusion: Dorsomedial Proximal Phalangeal Closing-wedge Osteotomy combined with Cheilectomy gives good subjective and clinical results regarding satisfaction, pain relief and gain in dorsiflexion; at least in the short-term. This gain in movement might be explainable by an improved EHL lever-arm resulting from dorsome-dial nature of the phalangeal osteotomy.