More than 20 years' follow-up of metatarsal neck shortening oblique osteotomy for rheumatoid forefoot deformity.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, advances in pharmacotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have dramatically improved the control of disease activity. However, a significant number of patients still develop forefoot deformity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the results of more than 20 years' follow-up of metatarsal neck shortening oblique osteotomy (SOO) for forefoot deformity in patients with RA. METHODS: The metatarsal neck SOO was performed on 163 feet in 108 patients between January 1985 and December 1996 in the authors' hospital. For the patients, who met the survey criteria, an observational study was performed clinically and radiologically at the baseline and at more than 20 years after surgery. RESULTS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 36 feet in 22 patients, all of whom were female, and the mean age at surgery was 45.6 (35.0-63.0) years old. The follow-up period was 25.1 (21.0-31.0) years. The presence of painful callosities in the surgically treated feet without revised surgeries decreased from 32 feet (100%) to 4 feet (12.5%) at the last follow-up with mild pain that did not cause any footwear problems. Re-osteotomy at the metatarsal of the lessor toe was performed on four feet in two patients. Radiologically, among 128 toes without revised surgeries, 85% were able to have the joint space preserved, and 89% maintained a pain-free condition without any recurrence of deformity. The mean total Japanese Society for Surgery for the Foot (JSSF) RA foot and ankle score was 64.0/100, and the visual analogue scale (VAS) of overall satisfaction was 62 (0: dissatisfied, 100: highly satisfied). The overall satisfaction had a positive correlation with calcaneal pitch and negative correlation with joint space narrowing at the talocrural joint. CONCLUSIONS: Metatarsal neck SOO appeared to be effective for patients with RA. The deformity was corrected and retained for a long time.