Republication of “Percutaneous Basal Closing Wedge Osteotomy of the First Metatarsal in the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Hallux Valgus and Its Short-Term Clinical Outcomes”

BACKGROUND: Although percutaneous surgery for the treatment of hallux valgus is popular in Europe, there is sparse English written literature documenting its efficacy. This study described the operative techniques using percutaneous basal closing wedge osteotomy of the first metatarsal in correction of moderate to severe hallux valgus (HV) and its short-term clinical outcomes. We postulated that satisfactory correction of hallux valgus (HV) angle, intermetatarsal (IM) angle, and patients’ clinical outcomes could be achieved with this technique. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 25 feet in 23 patients who underwent a percutaneous basal closing wedge osteotomy of the first metatarsal (MT1) combined with a mini-open modified McBride procedure and mini-open resection of medial eminence. Follow-up averaged 21.5 months. Radiographic outcomes included pre- and postoperative HV angle, IM angle, absolute and relative shortening of MT1, and time to union. American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores were compared between pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: The average HV angle improved from 39.4 (range, 29-58.3) degrees preoperatively to 14.7 (range, 0.1-23.2) degrees postoperatively (P < .05). IM angle improved from 14.9 (range, 6.7-22.4) degrees to 6.6 (range, 0.9-14.8) degrees (P < .05). The average absolute shortening was 3.8 (range, 0.27-12.91) mm and the relative shortening was 0.8 (range, 0.05-1.91) mm. There was no delayed union or malunion at the osteotomy site. The average AOFAS score improved from 39 (range, 12-50) to 81 (range, 70-93) (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Satisfactory hallux valgus deformity correction and patients’ outcomes were achieved with this technique. Our results are similar to results reported in other studies using open techniques. There was no malunion or delayed union of the osteotomy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series study.