Objective To compare the efficacy of the fourth-generation minimally invasive technique—minimally invasive extra-articular metaphyseal distal transverse osteotomy (META) and Chevron osteotomy (minimally invasive Chevron and Akin osteotomy, MICA) in treatment of hallux valgus. Methods A total of 80 patients with hallux valgus who underwent single-foot surgery between July 2023 and January 2025and met the inclusion criteria, were included in the study. Among them, 40 patients were treated with META and 40 with MICA. There was no significant difference in baseline data between the two groups (P>0.05), including gender, age, height, weight, body mass index, disease duration, lesion site, hallux valgus deformity degree, as well as preoperative scores of each item in the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Hallux Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal Joint Scale (AOFAS-Hallux-MTP-IP), scores of each item in the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ), hallux valgus angle (HVA), the intermetatarsal angle (IMA), distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA), sesamoid position, and the 1st metatarsal head morphology. The postoperative AOFAS-Hallux-MTP-IP scores (pain, function, alignment, total score), MOXFQ scores (pain, walking/standing, social interaction, total score), as well as HVA, IMA, DMAA, the 1st metatarsal head morphology, and sesamoid position measured based on weight-bearing foot X-ray films were compared between the two groups; the occurrence of postoperative complications was recorded. Results All patients in both groups were followed up 6-18 months, and there was no significant difference in the follow-up time between the two groups (P>0.05). At last follow-up, the scores of all items in AOFAS-Hallux-MTP-IP in both groups were higher than those before operation, and the scores of all items in MOXFQ were lower than those before operation, with significant differences (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in the change values of all item scores in MOXFQ between the two groups (P>0.05). The change value in AOFAS function score in the META group was significantly higher than that in the MICA group (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in the change value of AOFAS pain score, alignment score, and total score between the two groups (P>0.05). After operation, 1 case (2.5%) of superficial incision infection and 2 cases (5.0%) of numbness around the incision occurred in the MICA group, while only 2 cases (5.0%) of numbness around the incision occurred in the META group. Imaging reexamination showed that HVA, IMA, and DMAA in both groups were signifncatly smaller than those before operation (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the change values of the above angles between the two groups (P>0.05). The 1 st metatarsal head morphology and sesamoid position in the META group were better than those in the MICA group after operation, with significant differences (P<0.05). Conclusion Both META and MICA can correct hallux valgus deformity, improve foot function, and relieve pain, but META has more advantages in correcting metatarsal rotation and reducing dislocated sesamoids.
Objective To investigate the functional outcomes of buttress plate fixation and simple screws fixation for the treatment of supination-adduction type-II medial malleolar fractures so as to provide reference for selection of internal fixation. Methods Between March 2009 and December 2012, 53 patients with supination-adduction type-II medial malleolar fractures were treated with open reduction and internal fixation. Of them, buttress plate fixation was used in 30 cases (buttress plate fixation group), and screws fixation was used in 23 cases (screw fixation group). There was no significant difference in age, gender, injury cause, injury side, disease duration, and combined injuries between 2 groups (P>0.05). Complications and full weight-bearing time were recorded; the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and the visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to evaluate the functional outcomes. Post-operative anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films were taken to evaluate fracture reduction and union condition. And the treatment failures were recorded. Results There was no significant difference in incision related complication rate and infection rate between 2 groups (P>0.05). The patients were followed up 46-91 months (mean, 64.5 months) in buttress plate fixation group and 44-86 months (mean, 59.5 months) in screw fixation group. The full weight-bearing time of the buttress plate fixation group was significantly shorter than that of screw fixation group (t=2.05,P=0.04). During follow-up time, malunion and nonunion occurred in 2 cases and 1 case of screw fixation group; anatomic reduction and bony union were observed in the other patients of 2 groups. The union time showed no significant difference between 2 groups (t=1.06,P=0.30). No significant difference was found in AOFAS score and good and excellent rate, VAS score, operation failure rate, and traumatic osteoarthritis rate between groups (P>0.05). Conclusion For patients with supination-adduction type-II medial malleolar fracture, the angle between fracture line and tibial axial line is too small to be fixed firmly with simple screws fixation, with a relatively higher failure rate. And buttress plate fixation can reach rigid fixation, and has better functional outcomes.
Objective To compare the functional and radiological outcomes of supramalleolar osteotomy (SMOT) between with and without fibular osteotomy for varus ankle osteoarthritis. Methods Between April 2009 and April 2014, 41 patients (41 feet) with mid-staged varus ankle osteoarthritis were treated with SMOT. Fibular osteotomy was not performed in 19 cases (group A), and fibular osteotomy was performed in 22 cases (group B). There was no significant difference in gender, age, side, body mass index, osteoarthritis stage, pathogeny, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hind score, ankle osteoarthritis scale (AOS) pain and function scores, range of motion (ROM) of the ankle joint, tibial articular surface angle (TAS), talar tilt angle (TT), tibiocrural angle (TC), and tibial lateral surface angle (TLS) between 2 groups (P>0.05). The bone union was observed after operation, and functional and radiological outcomes were compared between 2 groups at last follow-up. Results All incisions healed by stage I, and no surgery related complications occurred. The mean follow-up time was 36.6 months (range, 16-55 months). Pain and limited activity were observed in 1 case of groups A and B respectively, and ankle arthrodesis was performed. All cases achieved bony union; the bone union time was (3.6±0.4) months in group A and (3.9±0.7) months in group B, showing no significant difference (t=1.61,P=0.12). At last follow-up, no significant difference was found in TAS, TLS, TT, and TC between groups (P>0.05). However, group B was significantly better than group A in improvement of TT and TC (P<0.05). The AOFAS ankle-hind score, AOS pain and function scores, ROM of the ankle joint showed no significant difference between groups (P>0.05). According to the modified Takakura stage, the improvement rates of groups A and B were 55.6% and 57.1%, respectively; no significant difference was found between 2 groups (χ2=0.01,P=0.92). Conclusion SMOT with fibular osteotomy is helpful in correction of TT and TC in patients with relative longer fibula.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of Scarf osteotomy combined with Akin osteotomy in the treatment of moderate to severe hallux valgus with absorbable screws or metal screws fixation by clinical and radiological data. Methods Between March 2014 and May 2016, the Scarf osteotomy combined with Akin osteotomy was used to treat 62 patients (83 feet) with moderate to severe hallux valgus. Twenty-five patients (35 feet) were fixed by absorbable screws (group A) and 37 patients (48 feet) were fixed by metal screws (group B). The difference in gender, age, affected side, etiology, severity, disease duration, preoperative hallux valgus angle (HVA) and first-second intermetatarsal angle (1-2IMA) measured in weight-bearing anteroposterior X-ray film, preoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores between 2 groups (P>0.05). The complications and healing time of 2 groups were recorded and compared. At last follow-up, the AOFAS and VAS scores, and HVA, 1-2IMA measured by weight-bearing anteroposterior X-ray film were used to evaluate the effectiveness. Results All incisions healed by first intention and no incision-related complication occurred in the two groups after operation. Both groups were followed up, the follow-up time in group A was 12-36 months (mean, 24.4 months) and in group B was 14-38 months (mean, 25.7 months). In group A, 1 foot was complicated with hallux varus, 2 feet had mild stiffness, 1 foot appeared metastatic metatarsal pain, and in group B was 2, 3, 2 feet, respectively. There was no recurrence of hallux valgus in both groups. The difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups after the first operation was not significant (χ2=0.275, P=0.843). The removal rate of internal fixator in group B was 89.2% (33 cases) during the second operation, among which 3 cases had screw slip and 1 case had screw fracture. And 10.8% (4 cases) refused the second removal operation due to their age. Postoperative X-ray films showed that both groups had good healing at the osteotomy site, and there was no significant difference in healing time between the two groups (t=1.633, P=0.285). At last follow-up, the AOFAS score, VAS score, HVA, and 1-2IMA were significantly improved in the two groups when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05); but no significant difference was found between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion The effectiveness of Scarf osteotomy combined with Akin osteotomy in the treatment of moderate to severe hallux valgus is significant, with few complications. Compared with being fixed by metal screws, being fixed by absorbable screws has the same effectiveness, but can avoid the risk of second operation to remove the internal fixator.