[Double Osteotomy of the First Metatarsal for Treatment of Juvenile Hallux Valgus Deformity - Our Experience].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study was to evaluate the mid-term results in a group of selected patients undergoing corrective surgery for juvenile hallux valgus, using double osteotomy of the first metatarsal.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The group included eight patients, seven girls and one boy, with a more severe form of this deformity treated by double osteotomy of the first metatarsal between 2010 and 2013. The indication for corrective surgery was serious pain when walking; all patients had previously undergone conservative treatment with no effect. All patients had pre-operative clinical examination, the affected foot was X-rayed with the patient standing and radiographic assessments of the intermetatarsal and hallux valgus angles were made. The evaluation of treatment outcomes was based on the scoring system of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) and X-ray images of the foot. The average follow-up was 37 months.

RESULTS

Post-operatively, none of the patients reported pain while walking, only two of them experienced pain during sports activities. The average post-operative AOFAS score was 92 points. Both the intermetatarsal angle and the hallux valgus angle improved after surgery in all patients, with two reporting only mild hallux valgus deformity. One patient showed postoperative restriction of motion at the first metatarsophalangeal joint. This was the only complication recorded in association with the surgery.

DISCUSSION

Almost all authors dealing with the treatment of hallux valgus deformity primarily prefer conservative therapy. However, this treatment is usually not very effective in severe forms of the disorder. Surgical management is indicated in symptomatic patients or in those with severe juvenile hallux valgus deformity. In paediatric patients it is necessary to respect the presence of an epiphyseal growth plate in the first proximal metatarsal and therefore it is often preferred to use distal first metatarsal osteotomy. At our department, Mitchell's osteotomy for hallux valgus deformity is usually used. However, post-operative outcomes are not satisfactory in severe forms of juvenile hallux valgus in which a high proportion of recurrent deformities is probably related to the growth potential of a juvenile bone. In such cases we use the Peterson and Newman procedure of double first metatarsal osteotomy, which can correct all three components of the deformity while maintaining functional first metatarsal length. This is a great advantage of the method. Although its authors have not reported any post-operative complications, the occurrence of restricted motion in the first metatarsophalangeal joint has been described in the relevant literature. The problem was also recorded in one patient of our group.

CONCLUSIONS

Deformities of the forefoot and big toe are frequent orthopaedic disorders in children and adolescents. The results of this study confirm that the double first metatarsal osteotomy is an effective method of surgical treatment for serious hallux valgus deformities in paediatric and adolescent patients.