Acquired Hallux Varus Deformity Correction: Pivotless Distraction Technique.

Acquired hallux varus deformity secondary to postburn contracture is a rare condition. It causes cosmetic disfigurement, pain, and inability to wear a shoe. Soft-tissue procedures and tendon transfers have been described for correction; however, these may require multiple operations and the outcome may be poor. We report a 6-year-old neglected case of hallux varus deformity secondary to burn contracture successfully managed by contracture release with pivotless distraction technique using a biplanar distractor and skin grafting with Z-plasty in the same procedure. The deformity was corrected to a lesser extent and with good functional outcomes. The scar was excised and Z-plasty was performed. The medial joint capsule was released. We used gradual differential distraction with monitoring on sequential radiographs. Pain-free flexion of 45° and extension of 40° were achieved and the patient was able to wear shoes after 4 weeks postoperatively. Hallux varus is a multidimensional deformity. A severe and rigid deformity might not respond well to tendon transfers in a single stage. Our described technique can be used to correct rigid hallux varus deformity with preservation of joint function.

Hallux varus: A literature review.

Hallux varus is a rare foot deformity due to iatrogenic, post-traumatic, idiopathic, inflammatory, spontaneous, or congenital pathologies. Acquired hallux varus, in particular, iatrogenic type, is the commonest. The primary pathology is the abnormal musculotendinous forces secondary to soft tissue or bony imbalance exerting varus deforming force. Understanding the anatomy of the hallux stabilisers and the pathophysiology of hallux varus is vital in its management. It would be helpful to understand the potential surgical pitfalls leading to iatrogenic hallux varus. This literature review summarises all the published facts about hallux varus, focussing on anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical and radiological assessment, and management.

Post-operative hallux varus: a review of treatment methods.

PURPOSE: Hallux varus is a classical complication of hallux valgus surgery with a medium rate of 6%. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Methods of treatment are MTP1 fusion or conservative joint operations. Hallux varus results from imbalance between excessive medial capsule retraction or tensioning and excessive lateral laxity or soft-tissue release but also and mainly from an over displacement of the first metatarsal which reduces the intermetatarsal angle and thus leads to medial displacement of the great toe. A majority are well tolerated, but few need to be re-operated upon. RESULTS: Factors guiding choice are mainly range of motion and reducibility of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and tendon balance. Joint sparing could be decided for a mobile and well balancesd MTP1 with two options, soft-tissue repairing such as tendon and ligament transfer and reverse osteotomies. The choice depends mainly on the radiological features as an unduly closed intermetarsal angle which leads to a reverse scarf or chevron osteotomy whatever previous surgery was or was not with an osteotomy. CONCLUSION: Conservative treatment is tricky, and MTP1 fusion is still a reliable procedure which can be used widely.

Longitudinal Epiphyseal Bracket as an Overlooked Etiology of Congenital-Residual Hallux Varus: A Case Report.

Longitudinal epiphyseal bracket is a rare ossification disorder of the short tubular bones. The affected bone becomes deformed as a result of the bracket. The normal growth pattern cannot occur, and when it affects the first metatarsal bone, hallux varus may develop with the abnormal growth pattern. We present such a 6-year-old patient who had undergone surgery at 6 months of age for hallux varus and polydactyly. The deformity had worsened gradually after the initial operation because of the overlooked longitudinal epiphyseal bracket. The patient was treated with surgical excision of the epiphyseal bracket, with corrective medial open wedge osteotomy and split transfer of the extensor hallucis longus tendon. The result was excellent at the 20-month follow-up. At an early age, patients who present with hallux varus must be checked for the epiphyseal bracket, which can be invisible on radiographs because of the chondral structure. Untreated or overlooked patients with epiphyseal bracket will need revision operations for recurrent deformities.

Hallux Varus Correction With Extensor Hallucis Longus Tendon Transfer and Reverse Scarf Osteotomy.

INTRODUCTION: Hallux varus is the medial deviation of the hallux. Although rare, it can cause discomfort, functional weakness, difficulty with shoe wear, and dissatisfactory cosmesis. This study reports 3 cases of hallux varus treated using extensor hallucis longus (EHL) tendon transfer with or without the use of reverse scarf osteotomy (RSO). METHODS: This cases series studies the technique of using EHL tendon transfer and the role for RSO in the surgical correction of hallux varus. Indication for RSO included osseous overcorrection in the index hallux valgus surgery or as an adjunct when EHL tendon transfer alone was unable to restore alignment. Patients were followed-up for 24 months and their postoperative outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: All patients were female between the ages 55 to 67 years. Radiological parameters after surgery improved in all patients. The mean hallux-valgus angle was corrected from -23.7 ± 3.5° to -3.2 ± 2.0° postoperatively (P < .05). Intermetatarsal angle was increased from 5.0 ± 1.9° to 6.7 ± 1.0° (P = .065). Distal metatarsal articular angle improved from -28.9 ± 7.6° to -7.8 ± 3.7° (P < .05). Mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores improved from 37 ± 24 to 75 ± 9 (P = .064) at 24 months. In addition, visual analogue scale pain scores reduced from 5 ± 1.5 to 1 ± 1 (P < .05). All patients reported being satisfied with the procedure, and no complications were reported at 24 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Hallux varus correction using EHL tendon transfer with or without RSO appears to provide satisfactory results at 24 months. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level V: Expert opinion, Techniques.

Traumatic Hallux Varus in Association with Agenesis of the Fibular Sesamoid: A Case Study.

Hallux varus is most commonly seen iatrogenically following overaggressive lateral release, removal of the fibular sesamoid, or overaggressive removal of the medial eminence. There are several reported cases of traumatic hallux varus, although this is much less common. We present a case of traumatic hallux varus in a patient who was later found to have bilateral absence of her fibular sesamoids. We postulated that lack of her fibular sesamoid led to weakness of her lateral capsular ligaments, thereby making her more susceptible to this injury. We performed a repair using a split extensor hallucis longus tendon transfer that was transected proximally, rerouted the tendon under the deep transverse intermetatarsal ligament, and secured it to the first metatarsal with a Bio-Tenodesis (Arthrex, Inc, Naples, Florida) screw. At 22 months postoperatively, she has demonstrated maintenance of correction and has resumed use of normal shoe gear and participation in activities. Our goal was to demonstrate a repair for this condition that successfully maintained correction over time while still allowing for functionality of the first metatarsophalangeal joint.

Treatment of Hallux Varus After Traumatic Adductor Hallucis Tendon Rupture.

Hallux varus is a deformity of acquired and less commonly congenital etiologies. It can present secondary to the release of the soft tissues surrounding the first metatarsophalangeal joint surfaces during bunion surgery. If the condition is left untreated, it can be debilitating, with progressive pain and destruction of joint surfaces. Many procedures have been described for the treatment of iatrogenic causes of hallux varus; however, little has been reported regarding the success of procedures when used for less typical traumatic causes. In the present report, a case is presented of surgical repair of a traumatic hallux varus using a suture and button fixation device and 3-year patient follow-up data.

Minimally Invasive Hallux Interphalangeal Joint Arthrodesis for Hallux Varus in Pfeiffer Syndrome: A Case Report.

Pfeiffer syndrome is a rare hereditary condition with an autosomal dominant transmission caused by a mutation that affects fibroblast growth factor receptors. It is one of the acrocephalosyndactyly diseases causing cranial malformations owing to early suture fusion. In the foot, it is typically associated with hallux varus, first ray hyperplasia, and partial lesser digit syndactyly. We report a clinical case of a 10-year-old patient with Pfeiffer type I syndrome with bilateral severe hallux varus due to a hypoplastic trapezoidal shaped proximal phalanx, a distal, medial-facing articular surface, and interphalangeal instability. This deformity was addressed by minimally invasive hallux interphalangeal joint arthrodesis with internal and external fixation. We report the results at the 2-year follow-up point.

Measuring hindfoot alignment in weight bearing CT: A novel clinical relevant measurement method.

BACKGROUND: A precise pre-operative measurement of hindfoot malalignment is paramount to plan and obtain an accurate surgical correction. Hindfoot alignment is currently determined on standard weightbearing radiographs. However this is hampered by the superposition of the skeletal structures. Recent technology developed weightbearing cone beam CT to overcome this problem. The objective is to introduce a clinically relevant and reproducible method to measure hindfoot alignment on weightbearing CT. METHODS: Sixty malalignments of the hindfoot were divided in to two groups; group one containing a valgus alignment (n=30) and group two a varus alignment (n=30) of the hindfoot. Imaging techniques used were standard radiographs and a weightbearing CT (pedCAT®). Following angles were measured by two different authors: standard long axial hindfoot angle both on standard radiographs and on CT, clinical hindfoot, novel hindfoot angle, talar shift (distance from a neutral alignment), tibial inclination angle, talar tilt and subtalar vertical angle on CT. RESULTS: Hindfoot alignment angles showed to significantly differ from each other (P<0.001). The novel hindfoot alignment angle showed the highest correlation with the clinical measurement method. Correlation of this novel angle with the talar shift showed a Spearman's correlation coefficient=0.87. Interclass correlation coefficient of the novel hindfoot alignment angle=0.72 and was the highest among the hindfoot alignment angles. CONCLUSION: Weightbearing CT is allows to objectively assess hindfoot alignment. The proposed novel hindfoot alignment angle showed to be both clinically relevant and reproducible as compared to previous methods. The lateral tibiocalcaneal shift, on which the angle is highly correlated to, can help the surgeon in determining how much translation is necessary to obtain a neutral alignment during a calcaneal osteotomy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III: retrospective cohort study.

Gradual Correction of Traumatic Hallux Varus With Metatarsal Hemicallotasis.

Traumatic hallux varus associated with osseous deformity, especially in the case of a decreased distal metatarsal articular angle, is an extremely challenging, but rewarding, deformity to treat. To the best of our knowledge, no previous reports have referred to surgical correction of traumatic hallux varus using first metatarsal hemicallotasis. We report the case of a 54-year-old male with traumatic hallux varus associated with medial subluxation of the second metatarsophalangeal joint and second metatarsocuneiform joint arthrosis. The patient was successfully treated with metatarsal hemicallotasis with medial soft tissue release, a proximal second metatarsal shortening osteotomy, and second metatarsocuneiform joint arthrodesis. After 1 year and 6 months, the correction had been maintained in a suitable position, no discomfort or pain was present, and the patient was completely satisfied with the surgical results. Metatarsal hemicallotasis can safely determine the angle of correction and minimize the risk of avascular necrosis of the metatarsal head even in deformed halluces with previous traumatic injuries and/or surgical treatment. This technique should be indicated only for hallux varus with a decreased distal metatarsal articular angle, an angular-type metatarsal head, and good metatarsophalangeal joint congruence.

Forefoot Deformity in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Comparison of Shod and Unshod Populations.

UNLABELLED: All reported rheumatoid arthritis (RA) forefoot deformities in the literature thus far have arisen from shoe wearing populations. Our aim in this study was to compare hallucal deformities seen in a shod population with an unshod population. A population comparison was undertaken in 2 specialized foot and ankle units, one in India and one in the United Kingdom. In the shod population, there was 1 hallux varus deformity, 10 without hallucal deformity, and 90 hallux valgus deformities. In contrast, in the unshod population, there were 19 hallux varus deformities and 6 hallux valgus deformities. There was great variability in the lesser toe deformity seen. In the shod population, it was most common to see dorsal subluxation or dislocation, with the fifth toe in a varus position. In the unshod population, the most common lesser toe deformity seen was varus deviation or dislocation. Instability of the metatarsophalangeal joint in the rheumatoid foot predisposes it to significant deformity. In the non-shoe wearing population, intrinsic muscle forces and weight bearing forces are the most likely determinants of the deformity, with hallux varus being a more common presenting problem. In the shod population, the external forces of shoe wear dictate the direction of deformity. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic, Level III: Case control study.

Radiographic results after hallux metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis for hallux varus.

BACKGROUND: Hallux metatarsophalangeal (MP) joint arthrodesis for hallux varus is generally reserved for severe deformity, failed surgery or the development of osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to determine the radiologic results of arthrodesis of the hallux MP joint following treatment for hallux varus. Our hypothesis was that in the process of correcting the hallux valgus angle, the 1-2 intermetatarsal angle (1-2 IMA) and hallux valgus angle (HVA) will be improved due to correction of the deforming forces. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on 26 patients with 29 feet that had symptomatic hallux varus deformities treated with arthrodesis of the hallux MP joint between September 1, 2002, and December 31, 2012. The 1-2 IMA and HVA were measured on the preoperative and most recent postoperative films and compared. Twenty-nine patients were followed with postoperative weight-bearing radiographs. Two were men and 24 were women. Twelve were performed on the right foot, 17 on the left, including 3 bilateral cases. Fourteen patients had concomitant procedures on the ipsilateral forefoot. RESULTS: The average 1-2 IMA changed from 4.8 degrees to 8.4 degrees, a difference of 3.6 degrees (P < .05), and the average HVA changed from -20.7 degrees to 8.1 degrees (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that a hallux MP joint arthrodesis in patients with hallux varus resulted in a predictable increase in the 1-2 IMA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series.

Surgical treatment of congenital hallux varus.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to report outcomes of congenital hallux varus deformity after surgical treatment. METHODS: We evaluated ten feet of eight patients with a congenital hallux varus deformity, including four feet combined with a longitudinal epiphyseal bracket (LEB). There were seven male patients and one female patient with a mean age of 33 months (range, 7 to 103 months) at the time of surgery. Two patients were bilaterally involved. The mean duration of follow-up was 5.9 years (range, 2.3 to 13.8 years). Clinical outcomes were assessed according to the criteria of Phelps and Grogan. Surgical procedures included the Farmer procedure, the McElvenny procedure or an osteotomy at the first metatarsal or proximal phalanx. RESULTS: The clinical results were excellent in two feet, good in six and poor in two feet. The LEB was associated with hallux varus in four feet and were treated by osteotomy alone or in conjunction with soft tissue procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital hallux varus was successfully corrected by surgery with overall favorable outcome. Preoperatively, a LEB should be considered as a possible cause of the deformity in order to prevent recurrent or residual varus after surgery.

The treatment of iatrogenic hallux varus.

Though uncommon, iatrogenic hallux varus is most often the result of overresection of the medial eminence, overtranslation of an osteotomy, overrelease of the lateral soft tissues, or overtightening of the medial tissues. It is not always symptomatic, as the degree of deformity can be well tolerated. For soft-tissue reconstructions, releases have little role to play unless minor deformity is detected early on and the longevity of tendon transfer and tenodesis remains unknown. For bony reconstruction, arthrodesis is the recommended salvage technique.

Radiological morphology of peritalar instability in varus and valgus tilted ankles.

BACKGROUND: Varus and valgus talar tilt in weight-bearing ankles can be explained by loss of peritalar stability allowing the talus to shift and rotate on the calcaneal and navicular surfaces. Little is known about the underlying destabilization process or the resulting talar malpositions. The purpose of this study was to determine talar position in 3 radiographic planes of varus and valgus tilted ankles. METHODS: Standard weight-bearing radiographs of 126 varus ankles (118 patients [mean age 62 ± 12 years]) and 81 valgus ankles (75 patients [mean age 65 ± 10 years]) were retrospectively evaluated. The tibiotalar surface angle, sagittal talocalcaneal inclination angle, and horizontal talometatarsal I angle were used to determine the frontal, sagittal, and horizontal position of the talus. A control group was used for comparison. RESULTS: Isolated talar varus malposition was found in 33.3% of the ankles (42/126), and malposition in 1 or both additional planes was found in 49.2% (62/126) and 17.5% (22/126), respectively. In valgus ankles, the percentages were 52% (42/81), 43% (35/81), and 5% (4/81), respectively. Seven out of 9 possible varus and 5 out of 9 possible valgus talar malposition configurations were found. The 4 predominant varus malposition configurations (89.7%, or 113/126) were dorsiflexion or neutral (sagittal plane) combined with neutral/external rotation and neutral/internal rotation (horizontal plane), respectively. The 3 predominant valgus malposition configurations (95%, or 77/81) were neutral or plantar flexion (sagittal plane) combined with neutral/external rotation and neutral (horizontal plane), respectively. CONCLUSION: In varus and valgus tilted ankles, talar frontal plane alignment does not predict talar sagittal and horizontal position, indicating that peritalar instability leads to various talar malpositions. Prior to operative treatment of varus and valgus tilted ankles, thorough 3-dimensional analysis of talar position may minimize failure in properly balancing the talus within the ankle mortise. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative series.

Longitudinal bracketed epiphysis of proximal phalanx of the great toe with congenital hallux varus managed simultaneously with monorail external fixator: a case report.

Longitudinal bracketed epiphysis (delta phalanx) is a rare congenital anomaly that affects phalanges in the hand more commonly than toes. We present a rare case of congenital hallux varus with longitudinal bracketed epiphysis of proximal phalanx with bifid distal phalanx of the great toe, which was managed with monorail type of external fixator. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of its successful implementation in simultaneous treatment of longitudinal bracketed epiphysis of the proximal phalanx of the great toe and hallux varus. Apart from adding to the literature a case of rare subtype of delta phalanx with hallux varus, the present study highlights the role of a reliable alternative in its management.

Bilateral hallux varus deformity correction with a suture button construct.

Hallux varus deformity typically results from soft-tissue overcorrection at the metatarsophalangeal joint during surgery for hallux valgus. There are several soft-tissue procedures available for flexible hallux varus deformity including transfer of the extensor hallucis longus or abductor hallucis. To our knowledge, there have not been any previous reports in the literature of bilateral hallux varus deformities in the setting of potential pregnancy-related ligamentous laxity combined with iatrogenic injury. We present the case of an isolated bilateral hallux varus deformity occurring after pregnancy and prior bunion surgery. The simultaneous operations using the Mini TightRope device (Arthrex Inc, Naples, Florida) were considered a success with the patient having pain relief and return to regular activities with normal shoewear.

Asymmetry of the leg alignment affects trunk bending in the coronal plane after unilateral total knee arthroplasty.

Unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) would produce asymmetric changes of lower extremity in patients with bilateral varus deformity. Our purpose was to investigate whether asymmetry of the leg alignment would affect trunk bending in the coronal plane after unilateral TKA. Twenty patients (mean 76 years old) with bilateral end-stage knee osteoarthritis (OA) participated. Spine images during relaxed standing were obtained on pre- and postoperative day 21. As a result, the shoulder tilted more to the TKA side and the pelvis inclined more to the contralateral OA side. These results suggested that the trunk would bend away from the contralateral OA side after unilateral TKA in patients with bilateral end-stage knee OA and varus deformity. Asymmetry of the leg alignment led to asymmetric trunk bending.

[Metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis of the hallux and arthroplastic resection of the second to fifth metatarsal heads in the rheumatic foot]. / Artrodesis metatarsofalángica del primer dedo y resección artroplástica de la cabeza del segundo al quinto metatarsiano en pie reumático.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this study is to assess the clinical and radiologic results of patients with rheumatic forefoot who underwent metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis of the first ray and arthroplastic resection of the second to fifth metatarsal heads at the National Rehabilitation Institute. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a prospective comparative study of the clinical and radiological status before and after the surgical procedure; it is a descriptive, observational single-group study. From April 2006 to December 2011, 31 surgical procedures were performed in 29 female and two male patients. The SPSS 17.0 software was used for the statistical analysis. Efficacy and quality of life indicators were compared using mean comparison tests (Student t test), the indicator of patient safety by means of frequency analysis, and the comparative analysis of the occurrence of complications throughout time. RESULTS: The mean preoperative visual analog scale score was 6.2 +/- 1.3, with an average of 1.6 +/- 2.5, with statistical significance, with p < 0.0001 and t = 7.97. Radiographic measurements of the hallux valgus angle showed a remarkable improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical procedure described is reliable and efficacious, as patients had an important improvement in quality of life, with pain relief and adaptation to their activities of daily living after surgery.