Objective To compare the difference in forefoot width between minimally invasive extra-articular osteotomy via small incision and traditional Chevron osteotomy in the treatment of hallux valgus. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 45 patients with hallux valgus between April 2019 and July 2022. Among them, 22 cases underwent minimally invasive extra-articular osteotomy via small incision (minimally invasive group), and 23 cases underwent traditional Chevron osteotomy (traditional group). There was no significant difference in the baseline data between the two groups (P>0.05), including gender, age, affected side, Mann classification of hallux valgus, disease duration, and preoperative intermetatarsal angle (IMA), hallux valgus angle (HVA), distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA), bony forefoot width, soft tissue forefoot width, osteophyte width, and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. The osteotomy healing time and the occurrence of complications in the two groups were recorded. The differences between pre- and post-operation (changes) in various imaging indicators and AOFAS scores in the two groups were calculated. And the bony forefoot width and soft tissue forefoot width at 1, 6, and 12 months after operation were also recorded and compared between the two groups. Results One case of skin injury occurred during operation in the minimally invasive group, while 3 cases of poor wound healing occurred after operation in the traditional group. None of the patients experienced infections, nerve injuries, or other complications. All patients were followed up 12-31 months (mean, 22.5 months). The osteotomy healed in the two groups and no significant difference in healing time between the two groups was found (P>0.05). The IMA, HVA, DMAA, osteophyte width, and AOFAS score at 12 months after operation significantly improved compared to those before operation (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the changes of IMA, HVA, and osteophyte width (P>0.05). However, the differences in the changes of AOFAS score and DMAA were significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in bony and soft tissue forefoot widths at different time points after operation (P>0.05). However, there were significant differences in the two groups between the pre- and post-operation (P<0.05). Conclusion The minimally invasive extra-articular osteotomy via small incision for hallux valgus, despite not removing the medial osteophyte of the first metatarsal, can still effectively improve the forefoot width and osteophyte width. While correcting the IMA and HVA, it can more effectively restore the DMAA, resulting in better AOFAS scores.
Objective To compare the efficacy of the fourth-generation minimally invasive technique—minimally invasive extra-articular metaphyseal distal transverse osteotomy (META) and Chevron osteotomy in treatment of hallux valgus. Methods A total of 80 patients with hallux valgus, who underwent single-foot surgery between July 2023 and January 2025 and met the inclusion criteria, were included in the study. Among them, 40 patients were treated with META and 40 with Chevron osteotomy. 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 (pain, function, alignment, total score) in the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Hallux Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal Joint Scale (AOFAS-Hallux-MTP-IP), scores of each item (pain, walking/standing, social interaction, total score) in the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ), hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA), sesamoid position, and the 1st metatarsal head morphology. The postoperative AOFAS-Hallux-MTP-IP scores, MOXFQ scores, 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 items 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 Chevron osteotomy 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 Chevron osteotomy 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 1st metatarsal head morphology and sesamoid position in the META group were better than those in the Chevron osteotomy group after operation, with significant differences (P<0.05). Conclusion Both META and Chevron osteotomy can correct hallux valgus deformity, improve foot function, and relieve pain, but META has more advantages in correcting metatarsal rotation and reducing dislocated sesamoids.