Modified Mitchell Osteotomy Alone Did Not Have Higher Rate Of Residual Metatarsalgia Than Combined First And Lesser Metatarsal Osteotomy

Abstract

Category: Bunion Introduction/Purpose: Transfer metatarsalgia (TM) is a common forefoot disorder secondary to hallux valgus (HV), and the best treatment for HV related TM remains controversy. Some authors suggested a combined lesser metarsal osteotomy while undergoing HV surgery, but some authors didn’t agree with it and concluded that isolated HV corrective osteotomy can improve symptomatic metatarsalgia. The main purpose of the retrospective study was to compare clinical outcomes in the patients with and without combined lesser metatarsal osteotomy while they received HV correction surgery. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the patients who underwent osteotomy for HV correction between January 2000 and December 2010. All the patients underwent HV correction with Modified Mitchell osteotomy. Clinical evaluations including the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and residual metatarsalgia were assessed, and hallux valgus angle, 1st-2nd intermetatarsal angle, metatarsal shortening, and plantar shifting of metatarsal head were measured. Results: Sixty-five patients ( 83 feet ) meeting the selection criteria were enrolled. Thirty feet receiving a combined lesser metatarsal osteotomy were grouped as combined surgery group, and the others were grouped as control group ( 53 feet ). The overall rate of persistent symptomatic metatarsalgia was 19.28 % after operative treatment. There were 6 feet with residual metatarsalgia in combined surgery group, and 10 feet in control group. There was no significant difference in the rate of persistent symptoms between groups ( p=0.9). Conclusion: According to this result, modified Mitchell osteotomy alone didn’t have higher rate of residual metatarsalgia than combined surgery. Besides, we also found that the average recovery rate of transfer metatarsalgia was about 80.7% and the patients, whose preoperative hallux valgus angle was more than 30 degrees, had the higher risk of residual metatarsalgia after surgery.