Do radiological parameters affect quality of life in patients with untreated and symptomatic hallux valgus?

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the disease on quality of life (QoL) in patients with not operated symptomatic hallux valgus (HV) and the relationship between the degree of deformity classified by radiological parameters and QoL. Methods: In this prospective study, 100 patients (33 males, 67 females; mean age 49.25 ± 15.20 years; range 18 to 75 years) who were admitted to our institution and diagnosed with HV between March 2019 and February 2020 were included. Hallux valgus angle (HVA) and intermetatarsal angle (IMA) were used to assess the degree of deformity. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Foot Function Index (FFI), and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) instruments were used to evaluate patients. Results: The severity of HVA associated with SF-36 scores for physical health, social functioning, bodily pain, general health, and mental health (p < 0.05). Differences were found between the degrees of IMA for social functioning, bodily pain, and general health scores in SF-36 (p < 0.05). A significant statistical correlation was observed between pain scores in VAS and severity of HVA and IMA. Higher scores in VAS and FFI were recorded from the participants with high degrees of HVA (p < 0.05). However, no relationship was found between the radiographic severity of the IMA and the FFI. Conclusions: In this study, it was shown that the QoL decreased as the degree of deformity increased in HV patients. In addition, it was concluded that HVA is a more basic radiological predictor than IMA in the evaluation of HV patients.