The tear-drop capsulectomy and capsulorrhaphy: a new approach in aiding the soft tissue repair of hallux abducto valgus.

Capsular correction is an important part of the repair of hallux abducto valgus. In this paper, the authors discuss the tear-drop method of capsular repair--a method that can be used in all hallux valgus corrections, either alone or in conjunction with the dorsolinear capsulotomy and repair. They believe the tear-drop method has many advantages, among which is the fact that severe splinting and/or casting is not needed and the patient can walk in a surgical shoe almost immediately after surgery. Excellent results were obtained in a high percentage of their 288 cases.