The Chevron osteotomy was described in 1976. There have, however, been only short- to mid-term follow-up reviews, often with small numbers of patients. We looked at 112 feet (73 patients) with a minimum follow-up of ten years following Chevron osteotomy with a distal soft-tissue procedure. Clinical evaluation was calculated using the hallux score of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS). For 47 feet (30 patients), the results were compared with those from an interim follow-up of 5.6 years. The AOFAS-score improved from a pre-operative mean of 46.5 points to a mean of 88.8 points after a mean of 12.7 years. The first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) angle showed a mean pre-operative value of 27.6° and was improved to 14.0°. The first intermetatarsal (IM) angle improved from a pre-operative mean value of 13.8° to 8.7°. The mean pre-operative grade of sesamoid subluxation was 1.7 on a scale from 0 to 3 and improved to 1.2. Measured on a scale from 0 to 3, arthritis of the first MTP joint progressed from a mean of 0.8 to 1.7. Comparing the results in patients younger and older than 50 years, the Chevron osteotomy performed equally in both age groups. Analysing the subgroup of 47 feet with a post-operative follow-up of both 5.6 and 12.7 years, the AOFAS pain and the overall score showed a further improvement between both follow-up evaluations. The MTP angle, first IM angle and sesamoid position remained unchanged. The progression of arthritis of the first MTP joint between 5.6 and 12.7 years post-operatively was statistically significant. Only one patient required a revision procedure due to painful recurrence of the deformity. Excellent clinical results following Chevron osteotomy not only proved to be consistent, but showed further improvement over a longer follow-up period. The mean radiographic angles were constant without recurrence of the deformity. So far, the statistically significant progression of first MTP joint arthritis has not affected the clinical result, but this needs further observation

As it remains unproven that hypermobility of the first tarsometatarsal joint (TMTJ-1) is a significant factor in hallux valgus deformity, the necessity for including arthrodesis of TMTJ-1 as part of a surgical correction of a hallux valgus is questionable. In order to evaluate the role of this arthrodesis on the long-term outcome of hallux valgus surgery, a prospective, blinded, randomised study with long-term follow-up was performed, comparing the Lapidus procedure (which includes such an arthrodesis) with a simple Hohmann distal closing wedge metatarsal osteotomy. The study cohort comprised 101 feet in 87 patients: 50 feet were treated with a Hohmann procedure and 51 with a Lapidus procedure. Hypermobility of TMTJ-1 was assessed pre-operatively by clinical examination. After a mean of 9.25 years (7.25 to 11.42), 91 feet in 77 patients were available for follow-up. There was no difference in clinical or radiological outcome between the two procedures. Also, there was no difference in outcome between the two procedures in the subgroup clinically assessed as hypermobile. This study does not support the theory that a hallux valgus deformity in a patient with a clinically assessed hypermobile TMTJ-1 joint requires fusion of the first tarso-metatarsal joint.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1222–6.

This study sought to determine the medium-term patient-reported and radiographic outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for hallux valgus. A total of 118 patients (162 feet) underwent surgery for hallux valgus between January 2008 and June 2009. The Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ), a validated tool for the assessment of outcome after surgery for hallux valgus, was used and patient satisfaction was sought. The medical records and radiographs were reviewed retrospectively. At a mean of 5.2 years (4.7 to 6.0) post-operatively, the median combined MOXFQ score was 7.8 (IQR:0 to 32.8). The median domain scores for pain, walking/standing, and social interaction were 10 (IQR: 0 to 45), 0 (IQR: 0 to 32.1) and 6.3 (IQR: 0 to 25) respectively. A total of 119 procedures (73.9%, in 90 patients) were reported as satisfactory but only 53 feet (32.7%, in 43 patients) were completely asymptomatic. The mean (SD) correction of hallux valgus, intermetatarsal, and distal metatarsal articular angles was 18.5° (8.8°), 5.7° (3.3°), and 16.6° (8.8°), respectively. Multivariable regression analysis identified that an American Association of Anesthesiologists grade of > 1 (Incident Rate Ratio (IRR) = 1.67, p-value = 0.011) and recurrent deformity (IRR = 1.77, p-value = 0.003) were associated with significantly worse MOXFQ scores. No correlation was found between the severity of deformity, the type, or degree of surgical correction and the outcome. When using a validated outcome score for the assessment of outcome after surgery for hallux valgus, the long-term results are worse than expected when compared with the short- and mid-term outcomes, with 25.9% of patients dissatisfied at a mean follow-up of 5.2 years.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:208–14.

The August 2012 Foot & Ankle Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: calcaneocuboid distraction arthrodesis with allograft for acquired flatfoot; direct repair of the plantar plate; thromboembolism after fixation of the fractured ankle; weight loss after ankle surgery; Haglund’s syndrome and three-portal endoscopic surgery; Keller’s procedure; arthroscopy of the first MTPJ; and Doppler spectra in Charcot arthropathy.

Aims

The aim of this study was to report a single surgeon series of consecutive patients with moderate hallux valgus managed with a percutaneous extra-articular reverse-L chevron (PERC) osteotomy.

The February 2015 Foot & Ankle Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Syndesmosis screw removal in randomised controlled trial; Diagnostic value of Hawkins sign; Chevron rules supreme?; Diabetes and ankle replacement; Fixed-bearing ankle replacement; Fusion for osteomyelitis of the ankle; ‘Reformed’ fallers.

The June 2014 Foot & Ankle Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: peroneal tendon tears associated with calcaneal fractures; syndesmosis procedure for first ray deformities; thromboprophylaxis not necessary in elective Ilizarov surgery; ankle replacement gaining traction in academic centres; some evidence for PRP and; fusion nailing and osteotomy an effective treatment for symptomatic tibial malunion

Metatarsus primus varus deformity correction is one of the main objectives in hallux valgus surgery. A ‘syndesmosis’ procedure may be used to correct hallux valgus. An osteotomy is not involved. The aim is to realign the first metatarsal using soft tissues and a cerclage wire around the necks of the first and second metatarsals.

We have retrospectively assessed 27 patients (54 feet) using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, radiographs and measurements of the plantar pressures after bilateral syndesmosis procedures. There were 26 women. The mean age of the patients was 46 years (18 to 70) and the mean follow-up was 26.4 months (24 to 33.4). Matched-pair comparisons of the AOFAS scores, the radiological parameters and the plantar pressure measurements were conducted pre- and post-operatively, with the mean of the left and right feet. The mean AOFAS score improved from 62.8 to 94.4 points (p < 0.001). Significant differences were found on all radiological parameters (p < 0.001). The mean hallux valgus and first intermetatarsal angles were reduced from 33.2° (24.3° to 49.8°) to 19.1° (10.1° to 45.3°) (p < 0.001) and from 15.0° (10.2° to 18.6°) to 7.2° (4.2° to 11.4°) (p < 0.001) respectively. The mean medial sesamoid position changed from 6.3(4.5 to 7) to 3.6 (2 to 7) (p < 0.001) according to the Hardy’s scale (0 to 7). The mean maximum force and the force–time integral under the hallux region were significantly increased by 71.1% (p = 0.001), (20.57 (0.08 to 58.3) to 35.20 (6.63 to 67.48)) and 73.4% (p = 0.014), (4.44 (0.00 to 22.74) to 7.70 (1.28 to 19.23)) respectively. The occurrence of the maximum force under the hallux region was delayed by 11% (p = 0.02), (87.3% stance (36.3% to 100%) to 96.8% stance (93.0% to 100%)). The force data reflected the restoration of the function of the hallux. Three patients suffered a stress fracture of the neck of the second metatarsal. The short-term results of this surgical procedure for the treatment of hallux valgus are satisfactory.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:502–7.

The February 2014 Foot & Ankle Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: optimal medial malleolar fixation; resurfacing in the talus; predicting outcome in mobility ankles; whether mal-aligned ankles can be successfully replaced; cartilage colonisation in bipolar ankle grafts; CTs and proof of fusion; recalcitrant Achilles tendinopathy; and recurrent fifth metatarsal stress fractures.